fall in north carolina

Ella and I are wrapping up a long weekend at my parent's house. I feel like Fall has actually arrived, and here are some reasons why...









My parents when they were in the first grade...



Homemade pumpkin-chocolate chip mufffins (way better than the Frothy Monkey's) and milk from a local farm...



It's good to be here.

tuesday at the monkey

I got to the Frothy Monkey just in time to snag the last booth. I Love booths. Especially when I'm pregnant. I marked my territory, ordered a decaf mocha and an organic pumpkin/chocolate chip muffin (how can one's day be anything other than wonderful when it starts off with so much chocoalate?) and now I sit facing the sun and the street and enjoying the general coffeehouse buzz.

How did I manage to get here midmorning in the middle of the week? Because my sweet Ella is at Parent's Day Out for the fourth time. We started her this semester one day a week, five hours a day (naps are included - and the kids Actually sleep on their little mats. I Really wish I could be a fly on the wall for that.), and she still definitely cries when we drop her off. We get reports, though, that the tears don't last too long, and she's soon playing with her four classmates.

My freetime activities have varied these last four weeks - and although a nap is most assuredly in today's agenda, I was feeling the pull of the blog. I was going to just update from home, but we have an infestation of chipmunks that ruins all concentration and sleep. That's right. Chipmunks. At first we thought it was a demon bird escaped from the rainforests of Hell. The noise wakes us up every morning, disrupts peaceful moments, and I liken it to a kind of Chinese water torture - but with sound. It's a basic pattern, but with just enough pauses to make you crazy. Well, me anyway.

So one day I was looking out the window trying to spot this horrid bird, and I looked down on our patio at the cute little chipmunk that hangs out there. It was then I noticed that everytime I heard the noise, that chipmunk's sides moved. WHAT. "It's the chipmunk!!!" I shrieked. "Whooooaaaa," Ella answered - probably wondering why I was having a tantrum in front of the window.

A few days later I looked out another window and, two feet away, that dumb thing was was perched on it's hind legs Barking. I swear, that's what it looks like. But I wish to the good Lord that it sounded like a dog's bark instead of the spawn of Satan having a hissy fit. And Now more chipmunks have gathered on our property - we think there are about four of them - and pretty much are on all sides of the house screaming at each other.

I know. It's the weirdest thing. I used to love chipmunks. Who knows why this fall they decided to show their true allegiance with the Dark Side. But we are seriously considering traps. And if that doesn't work, bombs.

But since I'm not actually in my house being driven crazy, I will divert my thoughts to happier topics. Like shopping. Now that Ella's in "school" I decided she needs a whole new wardrobe. Ok, it's actually because she's growing like a crazy weed (our 18 month check-up yesterday confirmed this - she's in the 85 percentile for height, but only 25 percentile for weight) and the season's changing - so she needs warmer clothes and shoes that are not sandals or flip-flops.

I spotted these boots at a Franklin consignment store, and because they were $5 and I've been looking for a pair in my size, they are now part of her collection...




Here's another pair of shoes she loves to wear no matter what she is (or isn't) wearing...



And here are a couple of pictures that I'm posting just because I love them. My friend, Krista, captured these moments...

saturday, squatters & neverending laundry

It's Saturday, and Andy is out of town. Thankfully, it's just for one day. With fall shows coming up, I'm going to have to get used to him being out for three-four days in a row. I don't like this. One day I can handle (usually). There's just this thing called sleep that I can't get enough of, and Ella has not been the most reliable napper as of late. Especially today - the poor babe has a very runny nose and sneezes constantly. She's also gnawing on her hands so much that she has raw spots on her fingers. Sure signs of teething. Right now she's moaning in her crib and I can hear her sniffling through the monitor. Very sad.

I've been trying to do laundry during her spotty napping, and managed to fold four loads, Stain Stick one load, and throw one load in the dryer. Two more are waiting to be washed. How in the world does a family of three manage to have this many dirty clothes? It's unbelievable. And now we're dealing with a very mysterious problem...

I believe it is all due to a squatter living in our basement. Andy does not. But for whatever reason, there is definitely a smell of cigarette smoke in the basement/garage, and it's starting to creep upstairs. Sometimes I'll walk inside and smell it. Sometimes I'll walk to the back of the house and catch a whiff. But what I cannot accept is that it is starting to make the laundry smell. I pull out Ella's sweet, little clothes from the dryer, and instead of smelling baby, I find traces of grody. Boo. We can't seem to find the source, and since nobody has been lighting anywhere in the house, it continues to be quite the puzzle.

I just hope I don't stumble across a family of smokers living down there because I will (first) have a heart attack and (when I recover) giving them a good talking-to about the dangers of smoking and their audacity for choosing my home.

Finally...

a summer night I can enjoy outside. As I write this I'm sitting on my front porch, in my genuine Cracker Barrel rocking chair, listening to the crickets and actually appreciating nature. I literally cannot recall the last time I have done this. I realize there is nothing old-fashioned about typing on a laptop, but rocking and writing under the porch light feels almost quaint. The windows are open to let in the fresh air, and I can see (and hear) Andy in the living room.

Nighttime brings with it a whole new perspective. Just the occasional car passes by, the lights are off in the surrounding houses - probably due to the fact that the inhabitants have real jobs, and the retired ones are just cute and need their sleep. This applies to the babies on the street, too. It's trash day tomorrow, so all of our matching "Keep Nashville Clean" brown cans are neatly placed so that the garbage truck can extend it's arm-like lever-contraption and dump the contents in the morning.

The train yard half-a-mile away never sleeps - the night is when it comes alive. Or maybe it's just that the sound travels better. The brakes are squealing, which sound not unlike aliens talking to each other across the galaxy (the aliens I've encountered, at least) and the boxcars accentuate the conversations with a resounding bump. And tonight, I'm not even bothered by it. In fact, Matthew Perryman Jones' song "Beneath the Silver Moon" is quite happily lodged in my head - the perfect soundtrack to this evening.

There is a definite calm that descends, mmmm, about the second Ella goes to bed. Not that it's better than when she's awake - just quieter. I welcome the change, live an "adult life" for a few hours, and then am ready for her smiling face by morning. We have good times together, she and I. I literally laugh out loud at her crazy ways. The way she says "hi" is about the sweetest thing I could imagine (it's very high, soft and drawn out) and her growing fascination with dogs is quite endearing. Good thing there are lots of them on our street to keep her entertained.

Today we went to a playground right down the street from where Andy's working this week. We played on the swings, went down the slide, and I kept looking around for signs of Nicole Kidman (she's doing voice-over work for a movie at a studio in the neighborhood, and all I wanted was for her to drive by, see a cute baby playing, stop and talk to that baby's mother. Is this too much to hope for?).

Afterwards we went to say hello to Andy and the others at the studio. Ella's milk had been outside for a while, so it was time to refrigerate. You know your daddy doesn't work at a typical office when your sippy cup is chilling in this environment...

tidying

Every night before I go to sleep, I go in and check on Ella. Sometimes it backfires, and she wakes up (not that I mind rocking her back to sleep). But most of the time I just look at her, smile at whatever crazy position she's in (if it's especially cute I go get Andy to join the fun), pray over her, re-tuck her blanket, and just enjoy seeing her so relaxed and delicious.

Often I'm reminded of snippets from a passage in "Peter Pan." Last night I figured I should look up the actual quote, and I believe it's going to stay with me through many a night looking in on my children...

"It is the nightly custom of every good mother after her children are asleep to rummage in their minds and put things straight for next morning, repacking into their proper places the many articles that have wandered during that day.

"If you could keep awake (but of course you can't) you would see your own mother doing this, and you would find it very interesting to watch her. It is quite like tidying up drawers. You would see her on her knees, I expect, lingering humorously over some of your contents, wondering where on earth you had picked this thing up, making discoveries sweet and not so sweet, pressing this to her cheek as if it were as nice as a kitten, and hurriedly stowing that out of sight.

"When you wake in the morning, the naughtiness and evil passions with which you went to bed have been folded up small and placed at the bottom of your mind; and on the top, beautifully aired, are spread out your prettier thoughts, ready for you to put on." -J.M. Barrie

grapes and teens

So I've started reading "Grapes of Wrath." I'm only a fourth of the way through, but I'm definitely intrigued. I haven't read Steinbeck in a couple of years - he's brilliant and has a way of exhausting all emotion. It's good to work my brain again. I just finished an absolute mindless book about a young twenty-something tutoring spoiled NY's Upper East-Siders for their SATs. I know. Don't look for it. Not worth it.

A few minutes ago, I flipped on the "Teen Choice Awards." Whoa. I thought I was pretty in touch with what's going on in pop-culture. But when I don't even recognize some of the nominees? It's then I feel all 7 years that's it's been since I've been a teen. I also don't like feeling like a fuddy-duddy, but when "Promiscuous Girl," by Nelly Fur(stupid)tado won in some category, I admit feeling disheartened. In her acceptance speech, she encouraged kids to use protection during their little escapades. Timbaland (who performed with her) leaned in and said, "Don't be promiscuous." Andy and I laughed. Good ole T.

I guess we'll keep watching while we're waiting for our pizza to arrive. There Are some drama moments to anticipate. Will Nick and Jessica cross paths? Will K-Fed suck (wait. I believe I already know the answer to that)? Oh, the "Choice Grill" award (yes, that means gold/diamond/platinum teeth just went to Brooke Hogan. I personally think it should have gone to Flavor Flav. oh good, pizza's here.

a legacy and the ivories

My parents are in town this week. They brought with them an assortment of things - including a very little and red rocking chair for Ella. First of all, Ella is currently Obsessed with chairs. Particularly ones that are her own size. During a recent trip to Pottery Barn Kids, for instance, she found every single chair in the store and gave it a sit. The children's section at the library is an overwhelmingly wonderful place because not only does it have little tables and chairs her size, it also boasts a reading area filled with little couches and easy-chairs. She tests as many out as possible - as quickly as possible.

So her very own Ella-sized chair in her very own house? And it rocks? Too good to be true. She doesn't go five minutes without giving it a quick sit and rock. What she will come to appreciate one day is that her great-great-grandfather gave this very chair to her Nana (i.e. my mom) when she was just Ella's age. The chair is in incredible condition (probably due to the fact that none of us remember my generation ever sitting in it) - and today I tried to capture some moments.





alas, she doesn't stay very long...




and decides the camera is far more exciting.




Next we go down to the studio, where another of Ella's favorite things resides. The big, powder-blue piano.







The sweetest hands I know

It was a dark and stormy night...

and I am a contented girl. Because this rain means a drop in temperature of at least 10 degrees. I've been imposing house arrest upon myself and Ella while the sun is hanging high - it's just been that dang hot. But upper 80s? I can deal with that. We might even go outside.

But tonight I am cozily inside. The baby's sleeping - that is, the one with a crib. I just had the most perfect Baja salad, and my tiny resident is quite excited about it. My husband just left to go see "Talladega Nights..." for the second time (I was happily with him the first time) and I'm going to spend the evening with my dear ole friend Goudge.

Ella and I (and Andy the last couple of times) have been going to the downtown library every week for story hour. It's a great program (although I bet only a fifth of the kids there actually get what's going on), and afterwards we roam the library. Actually, you kind of have to pick an area to roam, it's that big. A couple of days ago we visited an exhibit of original illustrations by several African-American author/illustrators. One book was actually featured in story hour recently - "Tar Beach" by Faith Ringgold. It's about a little girl growing up in Harlem, and the pictures are really amazing (especially seeing the originals in person).



Last week we hit the fiction room, and after walking around for a couple minutes, I headed over to find the Goudge books. There are a lot of them at the main library - and I was excited not to have to request one and wait for it to be sent to a closer location. Anyway, I was looking through, trying to find one that I had not read (thankfully there are still some) and I picked two that didn't look familiar. The one I started with is called "White Witch," and come to find out, it's historical fiction. The problem, dear reader, is that I don't really know a lot about 17th century British history.

I'm about halfway through, and really enjoying it, but keep seeing names that I know I should know, but am too tired to get out of bed and look them up. So tonight I looked up Oliver Cromwell, and I feel a bit better about things. Of course, reading the bio gave some parts of the book away (i.e. I know which side is going to win the battle of which I'm currently in the midst) but I bet a lot of people smarter than I - and certainly Goudge's original intended audience - knew.

I was a little sad that we didn't have a set of encyclopedias so that I could look up ole Cromwell, and then I got a little more sad that our kids might not have a set when they're older. I fully understand that the internet has gobs more information than any one set of encyclopedias, but there's just something about looking something up in a book. And I loved to pull out our World Books when I was little, and look through all the pictures, and happen upon information on something that I wouldn't have thought about researching. Then again, if there wasn't such handy technology, it would have been harder to show you all the man of the hour...

and the winner is...

At least every other day, Andy looks over at me and says, "So you're twenty-seven, huh?" I guess it's time to put a little something else down here. It isn't for lack of internet time. It's because I've been Largely occupied by something else. Something new and exciting. E-bay.

"E-bay?" you might say. "That's been around forever!" Yes, but I have just discovered the wonders, the intrigue, the breathless last moment before an item goes, hoping you are still the highest bidder...OK, so that's only happened twice. One time I won, and one time I lost. Mostly I just watch items and see how much they go for. Sounds psychotically boring, but I think it's good times.

I'm learning the little "tricks" of E-bay along the way. Like, say, reading the entire description of an item before bidding. My one item I've won was my first foray, and I was eager. I saw a very hot item (the entire Baby Einstein DVD collection) going for a ridiculously low price. I bid. I won! I looked at the picture a little more closely, and realized that all the writing was in CHINESE.

aaaaggggghhhh! I freaked out. "What are we going to with a Chinese Baby Einstein???" Andy calmly stated that That is why you read the blurb Thoroughly. He also assured me that if it was totally unusable to us, we could just sell it again. It Was new and in it's package.

It arrived. Every single word on the box and booklet is Chinese. Only a select few DVDs have English titles on the front as well. But, Thank Goodness, there is at least an English option on every DVD (so far). So, in my opinion, it's totally worth having Chinese characters all over the (actually authentic) Baby Einstein set for so Darn cheap.

I'm confident that with my next purchase there will be no surprises.

twenty-seven

Today has probably been the most revelatory birthday I've had so far. Well, there Was my ninth birthday when I got a note saying that on my Tenth birthday I could get my ears pierced. This may at first seem kind of anti-climactic...like, "well, why couldn't you have just gotten them pierced on That birthday?" or "why didn't they just wait to tell you when you were ten?".

I'll just go ahead and tell you that I was the most excited I had been in a long time. From the moment I first was able to discern what earrings were I was asking for pierced ears. At first my parents said I had to be sixteen (aaaagh!) then it was thirteen (still an eternity away) then I got The Note.

There's a picture that captures the moment. I had had a swimming party, and was still in my pink bathing suit that was one-shouldered with ruffles around the top. My hair was in a pony-tail (this was a few months before my mother chopped all of my hair off, making me look Really and Truly like a boy - I still won't let it rest), and I'm wearing purple leg-warmers. I'm pretty sure those were also a present - part of the "Get in Shape, Girl" set. (anyone? anyone?) My fingernails were painted pink, and I've got the biggest grin possible stretched across the skinniest face possible. That, my friends, was a happy day.

But seriously, what are pierced ears compared to finding out you're having another baby girl? Not all that important. Except that I know that I will Not make Ella and her little sister wait until they are sixteen to take the piercing plunge. And I will Not chop all of their hair off (but I wish I at least had the option with Ella. still wispy).

So, yes, today has been a good day. I think I'm going to like being twenty-seven.

who knew?

Ella discovered that her pacifiers rubbed with a slice of lime are just her thing. Strange that we figured this out, I know. My mom gave Ella her empty cup save limes at the bottom. First Ella pulled out the limes and gave them a few licks. Then she dropped her pacifiers in the cup, shook it a few times, then pulled them out for a tasty treat. Inventive.

summertime

I know we have yet to reach June 21, but to me, summer has begun. The schoolkids are home, it's hot as blazes, and the pools are open every day.

I took Ella "swimming" a couple of times last summer. However, she was only 3-5 months old and it involved me going to the neighbor's pool and swishing her legs around in the water. The fact that she would fall asleep in my arms should be an indication that she had no idea (and could care less about) what was going on.

This summer will be different. Today being the first of June, I decided this would be a perfect day to introduce Ella to an actual pool experience. We went to the Y. Where I grew up, we didn't belong to a Y (although if I recall the info correctly, I believe I attended "water babies" at a Y when I was 9 months old). But since I was old enough to remember, we went to the Eno Valley Swim and Racquet - and then to my uttermost delight, we had a pool of our own. I digress.

The YMCAs here in the Nashville area are a pretty big deal. There are several of them within 15 minutes of our house, and although they all cost the same, some are decidedly more posh than others. Take the Green Hills Y - valet parking is at your disposal, and I've heard tell that a good number of Green Hill's soccer moms go straight the the Starbucks post-workout. And while I've never been inside the actual building, I hear a lot of the stars go there to work out.

Two years ago I worked for the Y, and had a free membership. By some stroke of brilliant fortune, when I stopped working there, they never revoked my free membership. You'd think I would have been taking advantage of this - there are so many great programs, classes, and equipment there. But today was my 3rd time ever to go. And today I didn't even workout. This leads me back to the pool.

We went to the Maryland Farms Y, which also has a reputation as being one of the "nicer" Ys. I suited Ella up, slathered the suncreen on, and away we went. I held my breath while my card was scanned, but we were waved through without a second glance. We breezed past the Subway (yes, a full-on Subway) in the lobby area, walked down the staircase and weaved our way through the building. We walked outside, and were greeted with the squeals and shrieks of pool fun.

First we went to the kids pool, which has a sloping bottom, so that kids can sit and let the "waves" wash over their feet. I think Ella was intimidated - she wanted to be held, and kept her head on my shoulder the whole time. Her eyes were wide open as she tried to take all the craziness in. I then spotted the baby pool, and it looked much more her speed.

We headed that way and the only other occupants were a girl 3 months older than Ella, and her grandmother. The girl took an instant liking to Ella, and after spending many more minutes in my lap, Ella began to follow her around the pool. The little girl climbed out; Ella climbed out. The little girl walked over to the fence; Ella walked over to the fence. Ella never followed suit when the little girl dunked her head in the water, but maybe we'll work up to that.

I wish I had a picture, but I have no doubt that Ella will be wearing the same bathing suit playing in the same pool, and will still probably have first a look of concern, then utter delight.

balustrades

that word has been in my head for the past 2 days. why? who the heck knows. but there it is. in my head. it becomes especially prominent when i'm working on the jigsaw puzzle that's been stumping my brother, sister-in-law and me since yesterday. clay refuses to look at the box for guidance, sarah occasionally looks, and i've got it attached to my hand.

i spent a good couple hours on it last night (ah, the craziness that ensues when my husband leaves town) and got approximately 12 pieces put together. it's a 1000 piece puzzle.

another kind of puzzle i experienced last night was Tofurkey. "what?" you might be saying. "exactly," is my answer. i won't be eating it again.

oh, and here's the cutest baby i've ever had.

and i can't fight this feeling anymore...

i know, i know. i keep thinking of things to write about, and have finally decided to sit down and just do it. it's a rare moment that i'm not napping while ella naps (see last post) but for some reason i'm awake and kicking.
i've got my BBQ chicken pizza from California Pizza Kitchen (by way of the target frozen section). i Highly recommend it.

not that i'm here, i feel it's due time for an Ella update. the babe is 14 months old, and about the most fun thing i've encountered in my entire life. she pretty much exists to laugh, make other people laugh, and laugh some more. well, she definitely belly laughs much more than she used to - but she's also got this breathy, cough-laugh going on that's hilarious and Very endearing. she shows all 8 of her teeth, throws her head back and just laughs.

today she discovered that plunging her head down onto her high chair tray full of pear and eating it without any hands made me laugh. so that's how she finished her lunch.

she thinks putting things on her head (and ours) is pretty funny.

she likes to laugh and screech at dogs (until they come too close for comfort).

she likes to put her head on the ground and look between her legs - sometimes she's waiting to be somersaulted. sometimes she's just checking out the view.

she loves to pick things up, then give them to whoever is closest. the little boy in the dr's waiting room yesterday was a bit confused by this.

one of her favorite pastimes is to point out every light fixture in a room and wave at them one by one.

she still loves her baby IPod, even though it's in desperate need of a battery change, and the kids singing now sound like sleepy baritones.

this pizza is Seriously so good.

she continues to love/hoard her pacifiers, and when i get her out of the crib, she always has 1 in her mouth, 1 in one hand, and 2-3 in the other (yes, that means we keep a lot of them in her crib).

However, i feel we are making progress because now i tell her to drop them in her crib after i pick her up out of it -
and she does. even the one in her mouth!

she Loves to alternately bang and knock on surfaces - particularly windows, doors and mirrors. i think she knows the difference between a bang and a knock. but that could just be wishful thinking on my part.

she loves to eat Everything! her newfound favie is cantaloupe. yum.

she can climb on the couches now, and in subdued moments, likes to sit next to andy or me and just "talk." really. she's definitely holding a conversation pretty much all day. we just have no idea what her side of it is.

she now has a real live cell phone compliments of her Pops. it doesn't have service, of course, but it lights up when she presses the buttons, and she thinks it's the greatest. (this doesn't mean that you may never get a phone call from ella posing as andy or alison - she still loves our phones, too).

whew. i Could keep going, but i've got to ease back into this thing. and to all my friends with blogs...Update them!

Sleep when the baby sleeps

This bit of parental advice I have clung to since the second Ella was born. Over a year has passed, and I am still a faithful follower. I love it. I need it. My house is falling apart.

Obviously if I'm sleeping I'm not cleaning. And when Ella's awake, I want to be playing with her - not filling her lungs with Pledge, Clorox and Windex. One chore, however, I think Ella actually enjoys. That is vacuuming. The first time I pulled out the vacuum when she was in the room, she was crawling. I figured if she didn't like it, she'd crawl away. Not only did she Not crawl away, she became wide-eyed, curious, and began crawling Toward the vacuum cleaner. Now the child gets practically giddy whenever I pull out the (very loud) monstrosity that is the vacuum, and chases it around the room (laughing) as we do our business.

Another loud object she fully enjoys is the hair dryer. Maybe she's just envious, but whenever I dry my hair, Ella toddles speedily into the room and gets as close to the action as possible.

Back to the matter at hand. We may be living in borderline squalor, but at least I'm rested and Ella has a playmate.

ways I know that Spring is here

1. our lilac tree is blooming (is it a tree or bush?) and i've put a couple of blooms in the kitchen
2. lawns are being mowed, and one of my All Time Favorite smells - the wild onion - is out in full-force
3. my baby is toddling around in bare feet over the cut grass and onions
4. when my baby gets tired of toddling, she plops down and picks dandelions and wild violets
5. the heat is turned Off inside, and occasionally, the air is turned On
6. but mostly the windows are Open
7. irises and tulips have cropped up in neighbors' yards (i aspire to one day have them in mine - along with daffodils and
pansies)
8. i take a walk at least once a day
9. everyone else takes walks, too
10. my baby falls asleep sometimes before the sun is completely down
11. i crave foods like chicken salad, strawberry shortcake and sweet tea
12. which leads me to think about summer foods like barbeque chicken on the grill and pig-pickins...and more sweet tea
13. FLIP-FLOPS (and consequently, fun new nail polishes)

2 months worth of pictures

take a look

Happy Birthday, Ella!!!

One year ago today, Elizabeth Claire Osenga was born. No, I can't believe it. Yes, time does fly. And yes, she is still as bald as the day she was born. This morning we had a little family time to celebrate...

the Great Guilty Pleasure Read-Off

Remember Science Fair projects? I feel kind of like I’m starting one – for two reasons. First, I’m about to read a science-fiction novel. Second, I’m going to document my journey with this novel, and see if the end result is, indeed, as I hypothesized.

Of course, I won’t be adhering to regular Science Fair rules. There won’t be judges, nor blue ribbons, and (thank goodness) nothing “sciency” about it – just the book.

You see, my dear husband and I are exchanging our “guilty pleasure books” and letting the other take a look-see into our literary utopias. For me, this is either Goudge (my always and ultimate favorite, whom I do Not feel guilty in the least about reading) or, Far less meaningful, pop-culture girly (often-times British) humor books that always involve ridiculous amounts of materialism (namely clothes, shoes and jewelry) and some sort of fluffy romance.

I have chosen for Andy to read “Confessions of a Shopaholic.” It is laugh-out-loud good, has no amount of true value in life, and apparently will be made into a movie starring Kate Hudson one day (I cringe just imagining her British accent).

I have been tasked to read “Rendezvous with Rama” by Arthur C. Clarke. I am already smirking and sneering, being that I did those two things the entire time Andy was reading it in bed next to me. Just looking at the front cover makes me laugh and I’m feeling the need to rent “Trekkies” once again.

I respect and admire Andy’s literary leanings, but I must admit skepticism. He has been quite up front with the fact that this is completely nerdy, then quickly follows with the fact that apparently Morgan Freeman is going to be in the movie adaptation. And Morgan Freeman is, unarguably, cool.

So here’s my “hypothesis.” I think I will be scared off from the science-fiction world forever. I think this has something to do with people exploring a world in space, or something – or maybe a spaceship. Andy’s explained it to me multiple times, but all I can get through my head is that “Rama” is not a person. I think I’ve blocked everything else out.

I can almost guarantee that I won’t be returning for any sequels. I’ll try to keep the smirking to a minimum, and hopefully my husband’s cool points won’t be taken away in the process. Hopefully mine won’t be taken away as he reads his assignment either.

The following is Andy's hypothesis:

"Confessions of a Shopaholic

I'm expecting pretty much the movie version of "Bridget Jones' Diary." I'm thinking there will be a lot of names like Gucci and Vera Wang thrown around. And tons of wonderful, charming, young British men who won't pay our heroine the time of day. I bet it will be funny, though, and I'm hoping for some humorous personal revelations; and a better appreciation for upscale footware."


And we're off...

happenings

I've been remiss. For the greater part of last week, little Ella had a fever. It's been her first extended fever Ever, and it was a bit unsettling. Fortunately, there really weren't any other symptoms other than being alternately tired and refusing to go to sleep. But the day it spiked up to 102.7 deg, I was a sad mommy. She really was in good spirits a majority of the time, and we even went outside to play a little bit. Here she is, becoming acquainted with the great outdoors...


In about a week's time, my baby will no longer be 0. As the landmark approaches, I've become increasingly more nostalgic and have been grasping on to all of her little nuances. Her smile is often now accompanied by a toothy biting motion. Only if you're lucky do you get to see her amazingly-gapped upper teeth.

During mealtime, she tries to grab the spoon to help the eating process along. Or so I thought. If I let her take the spoon from me to feed herself, she immediately raises it up in the air, looks at it, and starts shaking with excitement. I've been reminded of both an Olympic torch bearer, and, more timely and accurately, an enthusiastic Oscar-winner.

She loves to instigate physical play. She'll look over to whoever is in the room with her, and as a smirk crosses her face, she'll slowly lay down on her back and wait to be tickled. Then when you actually Do tickle her, she howls in laughter. This is definitely one of my current favorites.

She's learned to kiss. If we ask her (and she's in the right mood) she'll lean in and let us give her a little peck on the lips. When it actually happens, it's heart-melting. I've been asking for the last couple of days, and have gotten turned down every time. However, her daddy had been out of town for a day, and when he came home and asked for a kiss, he got two in a row. She Then leaned in a kissed him three times Unsolicited. He totally wins.

We have a ritual before naptime. She nurses, then we rock for a while. For the last 11 months, she's rested her head somewhere between my chest and the crook of my neck. Several days ago, she abandoned that for a new position. Wait for it...she lays her back down on my lap. Her head either balances on the edge of my knees or tilts slightly backwards. I have no idea why she loves this new angle so much, but i keep rocking, and she often hums along as I sing "Lullabye."

Dancing is the new craze. When Any type of music (cds, movies, cell phone rings, toys, Andy playing guitar, even me singing a capella) starts up, that little body starts bouncing up and down. Sitting, standing...no matter. Sometimes she'll throw an arm up in the air (which is disconcertingly like her mother) or start clapping (she still doesn't move her left hand when doing so).

While listening to said music, it is very important that we put a barricade up in front of the DVD player. It's one of Ella's most favorite toys, and she Loves pushing all the buttons. Especially the power button. Pre-barricade we would hear about 30 seconds of the first song on a CD. Over and over and over and over. I captured this moment a few weeks ago.


Note, also, the scrape on the bridge of her nose. Until yesterday that was her only nose injury. As she was happily cruising along our furniture, though, she took a rough tumble headfirst into the loveseat. Much screaming ensued, as did her very first nosebleed. It was very very sad. We called her pediatrician, and they said to not let her nap more than an hour right after the injury, in order to stave off concussion. Poor babes. Her nose isn't nearly as swollen today.

On a completely non-child-related note, I caved and started a MySpace page. I really, truly don't know why. I don't plan on blogging there, I have about zero information on my page, and it's just another website for me to be obsessed with. It Is kinda fun to click around and discover people that you knew way back when. But never fear, gentle readers, this is my one true love. Go Blogspot!

Hey, Mr DJ

Yesterday I realized there were 3 songs floating around that I wanted to be able to hear any time I please. I'll catch snippets on the radio, and always want to hear it again. And again. So today my sweet husband bought them for me on ITunes. They are as follows:

"Fix You" - Coldplay
"GoldDigger" - Kanye West
"God Bless the Broken Road" - Rascal Flatts

Rock on.

screen free

This weekend I challenged myself to a rather daunting task: turn off my laptop and put it out of my sight, and don't watch any TV or movies. I had grown weary of pulling myself away from both types of screens bleary-eyed and exhausted. I wouldn't classify myself as a "screen-addict" - but I felt it was time for some detox.

There were literally piles of magazines that I truly love to scour waiting for me. There are always books that are in need of reading. And I'd been longing for some old-fashioned journaling. So Friday night the computer went away. And Saturday was completely, well, I guess the word I keep coming back to is Organic.

Usually, when Ella is napping or down for the night, I click on the Internet and Go. I've got places to be, things to check, e-mails to send, people to IM, blogs to read, etc etc. While most these things are worthy causes in my mind, I've come to realize that I don't need to go to all of these sites every single time the child takes a nap. It's become a habit, and it's about time this habit gets broken.

So what did I do with these screenless hours? At first, I thought about all the things that I could be checking on the Internet. Then I realized that it was a bigger part of my life than I expected. I wanted to check the weather. Couldn't. Wanted to put a couple of books on hold at the library. Ironic, huh? Wanted to check Dictionary.com (I realize this is unavoidably nerdy, and I have an actual dictionary, but the website is so much easier. Which makes me mad at myself because whenever Andy and I try to find a phone number, I race him in finding it - him on the internet, me with the phonebook. I keep trying to prove that the "hardcopies" of information are still valid. whoa, sidetrack).

Even all the magazines I was reading referenced websites, and I had to earmark all the places I wanted to go back and look up later. But I got to read some ever-welcomed Goudge, and spent time just quiet. I wrote a long list of things that I either want to do, or wish I wanted to do, and hopefully will someday soon get done. Creative things.

So now the weekend is up, and "real life" has started again. And while it's not the norm that I have the house completely to myself, save for the nursery where aformentioned baby is sleeping, I can apply my little weekend's "retreat" to the everyday. I can keep my computer not-quite-so-accessible, so that it's a concerted effort to get to it. And when my eyes have glassed over in front of the television, for goodness sake, turn it off!

I am so looking forward to the Spring, just so we can spend some time outside. On Friday, Andy and I played with Ella in our front yard. And after spending a good portion of the time trying very hard to not put her hands in the grass, Ella finally worked up the nerve to gingerly crawl around. Soon, she was off like a crazy woman, exploring and trying to put every single leaf in her mouth.

Oh yeah, she also took her very first steps that day. What enticed her? None other than a cell phone dangled in front of her excited little face. Since then she's taking her sweet time working up to another stroll, so we're still waiting for the walking machine. And Ella-proofing Phase 4 is about to begin...

no family bed for me

When Ella was in her first few months of life, she would often find her way into our bed for a nap or for the critical post-6am window, where I would try to keep her sleeping for as long as possible. And by "finding her way" I mean that it was Always me putting her into bed with us. I just loved snuggling close with my little baby (but not too close - for fear of suffocation).

She was so small that Andy didn't even always know that she was in there with us, unless she made some sort of noise. I think she slept better because she loved being held All of the time, and there was that comfort knowing that her life source (aka: mother) was nearby.

My friends, those days are over. Last night, Andy was out of town (the first time in a Long time) and I decided to harken back to the days of Mommy and Ella sleepovers. I learned 2 things from this less than 1 hour experience. First, the concept of "the family bed" (an entire family sleeping together in one big bed) baffles me more than it ever has before. I am not venturing to argue against it as a whole, but all I know is that Alison and Ella Osenga do not share a bed well in this current stage of life. I like to spread out - so does she.

During our little together time, this child rolled on top of me, pulled my hair, hit my face and chest, kicked my stomach, and almost rolled off our (rather high) bed onto the hardwood floor. All in her sleep. I fondly remembered the days when she would snuggle up to me and Stay. I put a pillow on the other side of her merely as a precaution, not as a laughable deterrent.

Second, I think for the first time since this child was a twinkle in my blue-grey eye, I truly understood the brilliance of a crib. And a bumper pad. For all the reasons listed above, it's a good thing that crazy-sleeping baby has a trusty enclosure - and something soft to barrel against. It's also good for me to be able to have a night or two where I can thrash around, and my poor husband doesn't get nearly pushed off the (rather high) bed onto the hardwood floor.

birds and births

Friday night I went to my first-ever painting class. It was held at this cool little place on 12th south called the Art House. I went with my friends Leslie and Kristen, and after 2 hours we walked away with masterpieces. Actually, none of us were terribly thrilled with our results, but we all want to go back for more.

It was a great format, in that we couldn't make tons of choices. That was one thing I was kind of afraid of before we got there. What if I had to pick something out of the clear, blue sky to paint? There's no way I would be able to pick, much less know how to paint it. So it was a relief when we walked in and the instructor handed us palettes with 3 paint colors and told us to just fill up the canvas with color. The only rule was that we couldn't paint in straight lines. Totally manageable.

While we let the paint dry, she explained the basics. Some people in there had painted before and knew all about the color wheel and planes and things of that nature. I knew absolutely nothing. I ventured a few answers to questions she gave the group. I got them wrong. It's a good thing the class was called "painting for dummies."

We then picked one of two things to paint. It was between a bird and a vase of flowers. Although no one outside of the class has yet to guess what it is, I painted a bird. We basically copied a very avant-garde bird sketch she had for us, and then practiced our new-found knowledge in the techniques of color contrast, shading, texturing and such. My bird was by far the fattest in the class, and the colors weren't at all what I had envisioned them to be. I was hoping for a serene, yet jovial, scene filled with light blues and greens, with a splash of yellow and white. I ended up with dark reds and oranges, and varying shades of green. But it really was a good experience, and the right side of my brain is craving more.


The next night I found this Chickadee and did my best at copying it with pencil and paper. The result actually looks like a bird, so that's encouraging.

Also, today is Andy's 27th birthday. Hooray!!!

It's official

I've reached a whole new level of motherhood. This morning I found a pacifier nestled in my nursing tank top. Since I've been wearing this shirt since yesterday, I have no idea how long the pacifier had been resting there. Awesome.

hello, caffeine - goodbye, leftovers

After over 2 years of all-natural energy, I've moved back to the dark side. Or the light, depending on how you look at it. I almost can't believe I made it as long as I did without this legal drug. I went through my whole prenancy and almost the whole first year of Ella's life without so much as a sip of coke. Two years without Baja's fruit tea! No more, my friends. I have welcomed the sweet goodness back into my life.

Funny enough, I'm not getting the bursts of synthesized energy I was anticipating. I must be way more exhausted than I had expected. Granted, I'm not even drinking a full bottle of coke (note: being from the south, "coke" indicates any carbonated beverage - my preference is actually Pepsi) or cup of fruit tea at a time. I thought that after so long an absence, there would be more of an effect. I suppose the ever-present dark circles under my eyes suggest otherwise.

The healthy answer, I realize, is to sleep more, but I'm still working on being a better time manager. I also need to be a better food manager (how's that for a segue?). I either need to master the art of cooking for exactly how many people are eating that night (usually 2) or we need to start eating the leftovers. I clean out our refrigerator every Wednesday night (trash day is Thursday) - and, without fail, there are multiple meals that get thrown away.

I admit that I am slightly neurotic when it comes to tossing food. If it's been in the fridge 3 days, I begin to question it's integrity. Andy, on the other hand, eats hamburgers on buns that have literally been sitting out for three weeks. We need to come to a happy medium. I Do feel guilty about not eating the leftovers when there are starving children in Africa (although I still don't quite get the exact correlation - if I could send them the actual leftovers I would).

So last night Andy and I ate what may be leftovers. It was cooked but never even partially eaten - just refrigerated - so it seemed a bit more appetizing than a half-eaten cuisine. It wasn't. Actually, the mashed potatoes weren't bad - nor were the green beans. But no matter how much lemon juice I spritzed on the chicken, it just wouldn't produce any moisture. Chicken breasts were not made to be microwaved after being fully cooked and seasoned.

Good thing we're eating take-out tonight.

face-lift

At long last, we have a new dining room and kitchen floor. All last week we poured the required blood, sweat and tears into the project. This involved ripping up the (extremely gross) carpet and (not so bad but i'm happy to see it go) linoleum, painting above the chair rail in the dining room so that it matches it's lower half in the "red red wine" variety, painting the kitchen the perfect shade of yellow, and putting in our "hardwood" floors.

Okay, so Andy did all the flooring. He and cousin Dean rocked it, and did a mighty fine job. I commandeered the painting with the help of some very kind friends. And all day last Wednesday (and naptime on Tuesday) I imposed upon some more kind friends so that Ella wouldn't lose her hearing and I wouldn't lose my sanity. If it weren't for everyone's help I think we would still be rolling up the (so disgusting I can't even think about it) carpet.

Projects are never really ever finished, though (at least not around here), so we have some trim work to do, and some painting on the cabinetry - but the bulk of it is finished, and it looks amazing. Ella is slipping and sliding all around the floor, and seeing just how much she can make her voice reverberate in the "new" space. The rest of us are slipping and sliding on the floor, and it's become a new favorite past time (for me, anyway). If you take a running start all the way down the hall, you can slide almost the entire length of the room. Good times.

It's amazing how fast things pile up in a week's time. I've done six loads of laundry in the past twenty-four hours, and have at least three more waiting. There are almost no provisions left in the fridge, so a massive grocery trip is in the near future. There are bills to be paid, and CDs to be shipped. There are bathrooms to be cleaned, and babies to be bathed (I didn't wait a week to bathe Ella, but she's due for another one). There's our Tuesday tradition to resume. Most importantly, there are nights to spend just hanging out, enjoying our surroundings and each other.

entitlement

As my Ella becomes more aware of the world around her, it seems she feels that anything within her reach could (and should) be hers. I think this is probably a common trait among babies. Andy and I worked in the church nursery today and you can see it in how the babies take toys from each other...or when one of them is having a book read, others want in on the action - although none of them can talk.

Now, I want to make a clear distinction between this "wanting" of the babies, and "wanting" of toddlers. This is before it really seems selfish or, sometimes, even malicious. This is more of a, "I see that thing, and obviously the person in possession of it is having a really good time, so I want it, too."

In Ella's case, if I'm holding my cell phone or typing on the computer or holding a cup (her three favorite things in the world) her little eyes light up, she gives an excited laugh (which still sounds like a cough) and lunges for it. Actually, I could be holding anything, and she would be almost as excited. If a magazine is in her reach, forget about it. She has ripped out at least 3 pages, and has stuffed at least a quarter of 1 of those pages in her mouth. Yesterday I fished out Jennifer Aniston's head.

I'm not quite sure at what point this becomes a "mine" battle (Lord, give me patience when that becomes her favorite word). As it stands, I'm just enjoying watching her total abandon to social mores, because she has no idea they exist. Pretty much every baby I've ever seen will smile at anyone they feel like, either not caring at all what the reaction might be, or because they expect a smile right back. I don't know the last time I graced a perfect stranger with a smile without a second thought. I often smile at strangers if our paths cross, but if they were to glare back at me, I would most definitely feel the sting.

Babies? Not so much. Is it because they are primed? Or because those kinds of insecurities have yet to settle in. Blast those insecurities. I feel there is probably some spiritual connection that could be made to this particular abandon and entitlement our tiny persons seem to possess. We are entitled to peace. We are entitled to fearlessness. We are entitled to neverending grace and love. These aren't just things we can hope we get some day. These are Ours. These are Mine. These are Andy's and Ella's. What would our little family (or community) look like if we lived fully in what is already ours?

memoirs & a cuppa joe

today has been deliciously rainy and cold. something about a rainy sunday hits me just right. church becomes more cozy (although getting to the actual building from the car with two huge bags, a baby, and an umbrella is quite a challenge), and home becomes even cozier. after ella went down for afternoon nap #1, i curled up with my current read then promptly nodded off. not that that reflects the book in any way, i am thoroughly enjoying it. sundays, however, leave me no choice but to sleep.

the book is a memoir, one of my favorite categories if done right. this one definitely is. "a girl named zippy" by haven kimmel, who i learned from her bio, currently resides in my childhood hometown. it's interesting, funny, and well-written. i think if i ever even attempted a memoir i would have approximately 2 stories from my childhood that anyone besides my family would find interesting. she has a whole book.

the sky was still pouring when ella began her early-evening nap. perfect coffee weather. not just any coffee, mind you. i crave decaf grande mochas. which leads me to a very pressing question. can one be addicted to a non-caffeinated beverage? i guess it's just like any other craving, but i don't know how many cravings actually get me out of the house in the pouring, freezing rain to drive 7 minutes to the nearest starbucks.

it was well worth it. not just the coffee, but the entire 20 minute experience. sometimes 20 minutes is all i need to get rejuvinated. even now, sweet andy is feeding ella her dinner, and i can have a few minutes to call my own. i never dreamed how much a simple act could mean to me. so a solo coffee run is practically life-changing. lightning 100 set the mood (much to my husband's pleasure it is now a pre-set on my radio). i took off the insulated sleeve of my cup, just so i could feel the full force of the warm goodness in my palms. i reflected on how i wish i liked local shops' mochas more than "the man's" mochas, but i truly have looked and not found a more chocolatey substitute.

when i finally put my corporate america struggle on temorary hold, i then reflected on one of today's sermon points - to Be who i Am - and tried to wrap my little mind around it. upon my arrival back home, i got to talk to andy some about it. he's a wise one, that husband of mine. and awfully cute. good thing my baby looks mostly like him.

alert

andy just posted a BUNCH of new pictures on our family site. check em out...

and she's up

standing, i mean. at 10 months and 2 days, ella's whole world changed yet again. all the stages feel monumental, and i realize walking will be one of the biggest...but what i wasn't anticipating was how different life is now that she's pulling up to her feet! it's so fun to watch her pop right up and start trying to grab at anything in her line of sight.

therefore, we have entered into phase 3 of ella-proofing. today all the pictures on the endtable next to the couch went away. i suppose they'll be back someday when there's actually a point in trying to explain that they are not for grabbing, chewing, or just knocking down. we're trying to figure out those battles - i am currently in the "no, ma'am, no shoes in the mouth" phase. cause that's just plain gross. now that she's standing, she is even more fascinated with laptops, and has commenced pulling off the letter keys and (of course) putting them in her mouth. um, danger!

this curious little baby loves exploring, and has claimed a couple of spots for her own play. under the dining room table, and under her high chair. i like to think of them as her little forts, but whatever they are to her, she has a lot of fun.

and she Definitely knows how to wave now. well, wave her entire arm, but she knows she's doing it, and uses it appropriately.

Also, she experienced her first true family meal last night. again, the crock-pot was employed, and ella got some of the goods. potatoes and carrots, for the record. and one more record...ella got her first shiner. not exactly her eye, but her cheekbone. boo.

ella has just now pulled up on my leg, and i'm smelling something that Must be attended to.

resolution check-in

we're a couple of weeks into the new year. let's take a look-see at how my resolutions are holding up.

i'm feeling pretty pleased with the blogging frequency. could be putting more time-sensitive things down for the record, but maybe i'll build back up to that soon.

i am Very pleased with my little cooking self. what's nice is we've had dinner provided for us quite a few times since my resolution, but on the days where we're on our own, i've fired up the stove, turned on the oven, and brought out the crock-pot. a new hit with the family? lemon-garlic chicken in the crock-pot...mmmm.

exercising? ha. i've gone on exactly two mini-walks with ella because it was just too nice of a day to stay inside. that's it. that's all.

bedtime...much better, thank you. haven't always hit the midnite mark, sometimes earlier, sometimes a tiny bit later...
of course last night i didn't get home til 1 am because i was at the late-night showing of "tristan and isolde." good story. good actors. not so good script-writing. there was also the comical prosthetic glove, that you just kind of have to see to appreciate.

go ahead and shoot me, oprah

a family ritual has begun in this osenga clan. tuesday evenings we go to the library (followed by target and chick-fil-a, but those have nothing to do with this particular rant). we employ the ever-so-handy online book request, so that when we arrive at the edmonson pike branch, whatever book we want to read is there waiting. i'll admit that i quickly go through books, so i'm always on the lookout for a good suggestion. i look on the library suggestion page, i ask friends, i read reviews, i often read what my mom's book club is reading, and (this leads me to my point) i reference oprah's book club list.

i'll start by giving oprah some credit. she has picked some classics - i believe it would do every well-rounded adult some good to read "east of eden" by steinbeck. why? because steinbeck is genius. he has a dark side, yes, but the way he describes people and settings and develops storylines is so rare and wonderful it's worth a read. "Anna Karenina" - another classic. One of my favorite books ever. "The Poisonwood Bible" - written more recently than the other two, and definitely excellent. There are a couple others on the list that I enjoy and would recommend to people. Others I would recommend only if someone were looking for a reason to sink into depression and end everything immediately.

all of these books share one common theme - messed up people. now, i realize that we All are messed up people. that is the beauty and glory of having a savior. also, knowing that we are all messed up is essential to true relationship and community. the aforementioned titles have messed up people in them. messed up lives. i am not trying to live in any sort of bubble. but i have recently read a book that was an "international #1 bestseller" and i would tell not a one person to read it. why? because it is so Pointlessly messed up that i just kind of felt sick the whole time.

and i think that's my main beef with some of these books. that the depressing situations really seem pointless. maybe it's because it's an obvious fabrication. give me a memoir or documentary or a person who is sharing their story and i'll enter willingly into the pain. but i no longer want to enter into a crazy world where the oldest daughter runs away to new york city, becomes a lesbian, than her father comes to "rescue" her, ends up raping her, she become pregnant with twins, only to die in childbirth, then her younger sister takes the twins down to the river to baptize them, and one slips through her hands and dies, then two days later the mom/grandma dies by sticking her head in an oven, then the remaining girls grow up and their lives are equally distressing. that's the last book i read.

we're heading to the library tonight and, ironically, i'm getting another book "by oprah", as andy says. but this one has been recommended independently of her, so i'll give it a whirl. but if i want to slit my wrists within the first 10 minutes, i'm quitting. i've requested some non-oprah books, too, so hopefully i won't be going into ella's room in the middle of the night to hold her and tremble in fear that she'll grow up to be an insane person.

everybody's workin' for the weekend

well, not me, i guess. saturday is technically about the same for me and ells as any other day. same schedule, same activities...but somehow i keep going to bed way too late every friday night. why? because the next day is saturday, and you can sleep in on saturday. right? except no one told ella, and she woke up at 7:30. thankfully she was just hungry and not quite ready to start her day.
but an hour later she Was ready, and i was especially glad and thankful that my husband was in town and could do the morning playtime with her. although i slept a few more glorious hours, i'm still exhausted...and this leads me to an addendum to my resolutions. one that i Must keep.

Go to bed earlier, dang it. at Least by midnight.

andy tried to set an 11pm goal for us last week, and that has been achieved not one time. so midnight is a good start.
what's nice is that ella still operates on 2 hour awake periods, so when i am dead-tired, i know a nap is not too far off. for ella, yes, but just as importantly, for me.

Double Fisted

that's how ella likes it. whatever she's doing or holding, it's preferable that both hands are included. if she's just hanging out with her toys, there's one in each hand.
pacifiers? if there is more than one around, one's in the mouth, the other in her little hand. my favorite is when she can't decide which one she wants to suck on (or maybe she just wants to double the pleasure...or perhaps it's a foreshadowing of her desire to include everybody) and about every 4 seconds she switches from one to the other.
mealtime is another example (by the by, she's eating big person food). let's say the cuisine is goldfish. she's got one in her right hand, and is eating with her left.

everyday with this baby is more and more fun. she's crawling like a champ (she started crawling a week after the doctor said she was a late-bloomer and i got nervous and started hounding my friends with kids for crawling testimonials). currently we're in a shrieking match. she'll shriek, then i will, then we laugh and start all over. she's halfway pulling up - meaning she pulls up to her knees, and if she stays there for very long she starts shaking and howling for help. i'm trying not to jump in too quickly.

she's loving books more and more, and likes to turn the pages. i've become a first-rate speed reader due to her love of the quick-turn.

speaking of quick, i should probably start posting when the tiny's asleep...it's a challenge now that she's on the move.

I Resolve...

to act like I actually have a blog and update it more frequently. there are important things happening around here, and it would be a crying shame if there was no record of them.

to turn on my oven and cook. something. anything. and don't ask me what we eat, because i really don't know.

to exercise. america's #1 resolution (or so i was told on ABC's New Year's Rockin' Eve). one that i promptly quit if i actually get around to starting it.

I could go on and on, but then around January 10 I would be sorely depressed because I will have failed to keep them all. But I really am going to work on the above. Well, at least the first two.