30 Day Photo Challenge - Day 2

A picture of you and the person you've been closest to the longest

I know that is actually two people. These are my two Amys (my step-mom's name is Amy too, lots of Amys in my life). The one on the left is my cousin Amy, who I've known since birth. Technically she should be the only one in the picture with me, but to me they both qualify. She and I lived on opposite sides of the state growing up, but we were pen pals. I would get to see her about 2 times a year, and we would write letters to each other in between. We live together now and she is one of my best friends. The other Amy (on the far right) is my best friend from high school. We've known each other nearly 15 years. We've been through a lot together and even had a few years where we didn't speak during our high school/college transition. She is my family. Her parents are my second parents and I practically lived with her during the summers in high school. They will be the maids of honor at my wedding (I can't choose between them). This picture was taken when we went to Biloxi to see Taylor Swift.

30 Day Photo Challenge - Day 1

A picture of yourself with 15 facts

1. My favorite foods are asparagus and gravy, but not together.

2. I want a great dane named Gravy.

3. My boyfriend and I have been together the better part of 6 years, but haven't gotten married (yet).

4. I live my life by emotions instead of logic.

5. I love dogs. Once we get a house we will have at least 3.

6. I hate strongly dislike cats. I never had a strong like for them but having a college roommate with multiple cats and issues keeping a clean litter box has turned me off to cats forever.

7. I am terrified of snakes, and death.

8. I'm messy.

9. I have a horrible fashion sense. Actually, I have NO fashion sense.

10. My day does not start until I've had my coffee.

11. I drive too fast.

12. I am VERY pro natural birth, cloth diapering, baby wearing, and AP in general, and am so thankful to have to come this conclusion prior to having children.

13. I can't wait to have kids.

14. I want 5 of them.

15. I'm a nerd, and totally accept that about myself.

Starting Over - Sort Of

So, I know I've said this before (nearly a year ago) that I was going to stop neglecting my little space here in the interwebz. I've failed miserably, obviously. In an effort to start writing again I'm going to do the "30 Day Photo Challenge" blog style. I know it is a total rip off of a FB thing, but whatevs.

Also, I am going to attempt to make my blog a place of positivity. I've discussed my negative nature in the past. I struggle with pessimism and negativity a LOT, so I'm going to challenge myself to try and keep this space positive.

First, a little update on life over the past year. January 2010 I posted some resolutions, and I can report that they were not a complete failure. I did go to the gym (well yoga) consistently for the majority of the year, but have fallen off the wagon now. *Note to self: must go back to gym* I am more conscious of my eating, but have not cut out processed food nearly as much as I want to. I am hoping to work more on that this year. I did go to a doula workshop, then began an apprenticeship with a local doula. It is going VERY well. I love it and have found my calling. I will discuss that more in later posts. I also took more pictures. In fact I purchased a DSLR and have been taking birth photos as well. As for attitude, well, that is a work in progress. I struggle with this, and really need to make a better effort to keep a positive, happy, outlook on life. I'm still working on that. The blog speaks for itself (major fail on that resolution).

I have been quite busy lately. I still have my full time job in higher ed, though it has changed somewhat since my last posting. As mentioned above I am also on the road to becoming a doula. So, I have 2 full time jobs. Well, close to full time. My doula'ing is not quite full time, but most evenings after work, and last weekend I attended to 4 moms in 5 days! The ex - boyfriend is definitely no longer EX. Things are going VERY well between us. No relationship is easy and ours is no exception, but our communication (read: me communicating) has gotten much better. We are house hunting right now, and we cannot wait to find one. Unfortunately, last year also had some sadness. My family lost both my grandfather (technically step-grandfather but I never saw him as "step") and a young (26 yo) cousin to cancer. My great-aunt passed as well. My grandfather and great-aunt lived long (both into their 80s) full lives. My cousin's death, however, is one that I've struggled with. He was so young and so full of potential. I can't help but wonder WHY?

That's what I've been up to. Now on to the 30 day photo challenge!

I'm back...I think...

So, I've totally neglected my little corner of the blogsphere for the past couple of months. I've been pretty busy, but that is really no excuse. I just haven't made the time, or used my free time wisely.

I gave myself a little facelift. I attempted to be creative and make my own background, but got in a fight with photoshop, and photoshop won. So I took the easy way out and found one on the internet. Maybe in the future I'll have more patience and be inspired to actually create something myself. 

I've been really preoccupied with my doula apprenticeship, and have spent all my free time lately reading and researching all things related to childbirth and childrearing. I started a post about it and will work on finishing it soon (hopefully). I'm going to try to stop being so scarce around here. We'll see how that goes. 

Wordless Wednesday: Oude Kerk

"IT'S GOOD, IT'S GOOD, IT'S GOOD!!! PIGS HAVE FLOWN!! HELL HAS FROZEN OVER!!! THE SAINTS ARE GOING TO THE SUPER BOWL!!!"*

It’s been pretty exciting in southern Louisiana the past couple weeks. You may have heard our team is going to the super bowl for the first time in history and we are pretty pumped up about the whole thing. I realize there are plenty of fair-weather fans out there, but many of us have been waiting a long time for this. Personally I’ve been waiting 27 years, but my dad has been waiting since 1967, when the franchise was founded. While I was growing up my dad, some of my family, and close family friends had season tickets, and gathered at rotating parties for all the away games. Basically I grew up on Saints (and LSU) football. Granted I didn’t care so much when I was younger. Like many things I took this for granted as a child, and didn’t really care about football, but now, as an adult, am very happy to have the history. I’ll even admit that I was a little emotional when we beat the Vikings a couple weeks ago. The tears didn’t actually fall, but I was definitely misty eyed. Honestly, it’s still a little surreal, and I’ve had to pinch myself a few times over the past couple weeks just to make sure it’s happening.

The people of New Orleans have many characteristics. Among them is fierce determination and loyalty. When our team sucked we stood behind them. Even during the losing ‘80s, the years of the “Aints”, when Buddy D advised the fans to wear paper bags over their heads to all the home games. Buddy D vowed that if the saints ever made it to the superbowl he’d walk down Bourbon Street wearing a dress. Unfortunately, Buddy D passed away a few years back, but Bobby Hebert (that’s pronounced a-bear) and the men of New Orleans made good on his promise and had a dress parade down Bourbon St last weekend. Now, if there is one thing us New Orleanians are good at it’s partying. Our most famous street is Bourbon Street, ‘nuff said. We are so good at partying that I did not learn any of the following until adulthood, when I moved away from the Big Easy:

1. Bars close? The first time I was at a bar and they announced last call at 2am I had to ask someone what the hell that meant. The quarter never shuts down, we can, and will, party 24/7.
2. Only in southern Louisiana can you buy liquor/beer/wine a couple isles over from baby diapers and potato chips. I had no idea what a liquor store was because we always got our alcohol at the grocery store.
3. They don’t have drive through daiquiris everywhere? They are ALL over the Nola metropolitan area. It’s not an open container until you put the straw in! You can even buy it by the gallon.
4. Dry Counties? Really? There are actually places that ban alcohol? That should be a federal crime….
5. Mardi Gras is not a national holiday?!?! Everything shuts down for Mardi Gras. It’s one of our biggest displays of drunken debauchery parties of the year, and I assumed everyone else celebrated too. We have a fairly large catholic population so this is our last hurrah before lent begins.

I guess I should mention that these days I’m kind of an old lady. My partying days have all but ceased now because I usually go to bed early and am ready to leave the bar by midnight. It’s kinda sad actually. However, when the situation arises I know what to do, and this weekend I fully intend to get my party on!

I Believe!


*Title borrowed from a statement at the end of NFC Championship game by local sportscaster Jim Henderson

Wordless Wednesday: WHO DAT!

It's That Time Again...

I've been blessed with my monthly visitor this week, which I should be happy about because it means I'm not knocked up (side note: I've watched too many episodes of I Didn't Know I Was Pregnant so I am now paranoid that I could be pregnant anyway, but I digress...). I was useless yesterday and had to leave work early. Of course this has to happen on one of the two weeks of the year that it is imperative everyone be there. I went in because I didn't want to screw over my co-workers by being gone on a potentially busy day. By lunchtime I was in hour 18 or so of my migraine, and was fighting to not puke all over my desk. It was fun times. I managed to sleep it off once I got home, and am feeling mostly better today. At least the headache part is gone even if the uterus ache is not. I'm going to go crawl back into my hole of feeling sorry for myself for being a woman now. I'll be back next week....

Girl Talk Thursday: Pet Peeves

I found out about Girl Talk Thursday by reading Miss Grace's Disgrace, and have been meaning to join in for a while. So, here I am taking the leap.

Inconsiderate Driving People driving in the left lane when not passing. Especially when they are going under the speed limit. People who get in to a lane that’s ending in an attempt to cut everyone else off instead of waiting their turn in line.

Uggs with running shorts WHY? I love my Uggs. Yeah, they are a little hideous, but they are so very comfy and warm so I’ve accepted the hideousness and moved past it. Wearing them with running shorts? Not okay. First if you’re running you should be wearing running shoes. Second, if it’s warm enough for shorts then you shouldn’t be wearing Uggs, and if it’s cold enough for Uggs for the love of all that is holy put some freaking pants on.

Bicyclers who don’t obey traffic rules I am all for bicycling. I think its wonderful to do your part for the environment and being healthier in the process, but running a stop sign without hesitation when a car has the right of way is asking to get run over. Just because you’re on a bike doesn’t mean you’re above traffic laws. In fact since you’re in a more vulnerable position I’d think you’d be extra cautious, but apparently I am mistaken.

People who get in the express checkout lane at the store when they clearly have more items than posted. Really, I just think it’s rude. The message it sends to me is that you think your time is more valuable than mine, and it’s not. I don’t think my time is more valuable than your's therefore if I have 15 items and the checkout line says 10 I go to another line. Just being courteous.

Babied College Kids. I may have mentioned before that I work in a higher education setting. I never get used to college kids’ mommies calling instead of making them do it themselves. I have no problem with help and support from parents. I admit my parents supported me (financially) through college, but I never asked them to call the school for me because I couldn’t log into my email or I forgot my password. I’m happy to know that even if I had asked them they would have said no. There’s a fine line between helping someone and rendering them helpless.

Ridiculous Misspelling. This is especially an issue on facebook, and I’m not talking about abbreviations. I mean blatant misspelling. Today I saw a comment where someone said “tawkin” instead of talking. Seriously, what the f*ck is that? Are people really that illiterate or do they think it’s amusing? Either way it worries me. Sometimes there are whole sentences I can’t even read because the spelling makes no sense. Hand in hand with that issue is random capitalization of letters in places where it makes no sense. yU nO LyKe tHs. (Just so you know. It made my skin crawl to type that)

Lack of reading comprehension. When directions or a sign explaining something is in from of someone they pause and appear to have read the information, then turn around ask the question that is answered by the information in front of them. I’ve heard the question “it says I need to reset my password what does that mean?” asked on more than one occasion. I see this done on a nearly daily basis by people on campus. If you’ve made it to higher academia then I think it is reasonable to expect that not only should an individual be able to read, but they should have fairly good comprehension skills as well.

I’m sure I could come up with some more, but I’m going to stop here. It kind of peeves me thinking about these things.