Being plus sized and pregnant has a unique set of challenges. While some of the challenges are medical (higher risk for certain pregnancy complications), many are experiencial. For example, because I'm heavy, it will probably take longer for me to feel my Lima Bean moving. While normal sized women are lucky to have access to an increasingly broad range of attractive maternity clothes, the plus size choices are decidedly limited. But perhaps the hardest part of being overweight and pregnant is that it looks less like I'm pregnant and more like I'm just getting fatter. Instead of a bump, it's more like a bigger belly.
As someone whose biggest challenge has always been my weight, pregnancy is a constant reminder of that challenge. I'm acutely aware of every bit of weight gain and am making a conscious effort to keep my weight gain within the healthy recommendations for overweight women, which is quite minimal. Not that it stops me from enjoying the occasional BK Double Stacker (yum!). My pregnancy has also renewed my focus on getting my weight under control with exercise and healthy eating habits. But with the focus comes frustration, because I obviously can't embark on a weightloss plan while I'm pregnant.
My intent is not to complain, but simply to share my observations and my pregnancy experience.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Friday, March 11, 2011
politicsmanship
At an early age we're taught the value of sportsmanship. We're taught to be good team players and gracious winners. We're taught that there's nothing admirable about being a sore loser or a sore sport. As adults, we find it important to instill these qualities of good sportsmanship in our children, yet grownups often do a poor job of leading by example. Avid sports fans often show children that it's okay to support one's own team by bashing the opponent. That 'YOU SUCK!!' yelled at the opposing team is just as effective as 'GO TEAM!!!' in support of your own. Worse, kids grow up thinking that's acceptable behaviour and quickly lose the values of sportsmanship. I wish that more of us would retain the values that we were taught as children.
I guess it's no wonder that many people display equally disheartening poor politicsmanship. I've never really understood the point of badmouthing the opposing political party without offering constructive solutions to the issues at hand. On Facebook, I try to steer clear of politics (for the most part) because daily I see people using Facebook (and mass forwarded e-mail messages) that do nothing but bash a political party, as if badmouthing one party proves that the other party is superior. And I'm angered when I see members of any party affiliation doing this, even my own! I think that we could all benefit from remembering the lessons we learned as children and should begin practicing good politicsmanship, where we aren't sore losers who bash opposing opinions. Instead, we should welcome opportunities to strengthen our own 'teams' by being part of productive and thoughtful solutions. I have no problem with disagreement or thoughtful debate. But name-calling and insult-slinging do nothing to further our growth as a community or a nation.
Just something I've been thinking about lately.
I guess it's no wonder that many people display equally disheartening poor politicsmanship. I've never really understood the point of badmouthing the opposing political party without offering constructive solutions to the issues at hand. On Facebook, I try to steer clear of politics (for the most part) because daily I see people using Facebook (and mass forwarded e-mail messages) that do nothing but bash a political party, as if badmouthing one party proves that the other party is superior. And I'm angered when I see members of any party affiliation doing this, even my own! I think that we could all benefit from remembering the lessons we learned as children and should begin practicing good politicsmanship, where we aren't sore losers who bash opposing opinions. Instead, we should welcome opportunities to strengthen our own 'teams' by being part of productive and thoughtful solutions. I have no problem with disagreement or thoughtful debate. But name-calling and insult-slinging do nothing to further our growth as a community or a nation.
Just something I've been thinking about lately.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
losing my mind
So far, pregnancy hasn't been the most pleasant experience. So many women talk about how wonderful pregnancy is and instruct the newly-pregnant to really cherish the time. Other women talk about being miserable for their entire pregnancies. While miserable would be too strong a word to describe my experience so far, it hasn't exactly been wonderful. Instead of a glow, my face is usually marked with dark circles under my eyes. While I haven't thrown up once, I have constant nausea. My gums are sensitive and you don't even want to know about the pooping issues! I guess I was a little naive or perhaps unprepared for all of these pregnancy changes. The most unnerving change of all is that pregnancy is causing me to lose my mind. Mostly, it's been little things. Forgetting small details. Having difficulty focusing. But this week the mental incapacitation went to a whole new level. On Friday, I showed up at 12:30 at the Education Center to have my statistics exam proctored. The proctor was surprised to see me, because apparently I didn't have an appointment on Friday at 12:30 and he was conducting soldier testing and unavailable as a proctor. He did, however, have me scheduled for 8:00 the previous morning and had been surprised when I hadn't shown up for the exam. My heart fell to the floor. How could this have happened?! With the exam window closing on Saturday and no other proctoring appointments available until next Thursday, there was no way that I could complete my exam as assigned. I was able to reach my professor by e-mail and she was kind enough to extend the exam window so that I can take it next Thursday. But what if I hadn't been so lucky?
When I returned to my office, I checked my calendar and the e-mail correspondence between me and the proctor. Turns out, the exam had actually been scheduled for Friday at 8:00....both the proctor and I had been wrong! I had initially requested to be tested at 12:30 on Friday and that day and time just stuck in my head. And when I'm not pregnant, my head is pretty reliable. It's strange that I have to learn to mistrust myself because my brain is just not the reliable calendar that it always has been.
Most people who know me know that I'm extremely organized, thorough and detail oriented. So, of all the pregnancy changes, losing my mind is the hardest for me to handle. I rely heavily on my ability to recall details and manage organized systems in my head, without having to write everything down. Or if I write things down, it's usually just to help me commit things to memory. Once the list has been made, I very rarely need to consult it. Now, I'm forced to not only make lists and keep a calendar, but to regularly check them to make sure that I don't make any more mistakes like I did with my statistics exam.
The purpose of this blog entry is not necessarily to complain or whine, but to document my experience, as it is. After our little bundle of joy arrives, I may look back through my baby-tinted glasses and think that pregnancy was wonderful. But I want to document what pregnancy is really like, at least for me. I also hope to regain my mind, but from what I've heard from parents, it just gets worse!
When I returned to my office, I checked my calendar and the e-mail correspondence between me and the proctor. Turns out, the exam had actually been scheduled for Friday at 8:00....both the proctor and I had been wrong! I had initially requested to be tested at 12:30 on Friday and that day and time just stuck in my head. And when I'm not pregnant, my head is pretty reliable. It's strange that I have to learn to mistrust myself because my brain is just not the reliable calendar that it always has been.
Most people who know me know that I'm extremely organized, thorough and detail oriented. So, of all the pregnancy changes, losing my mind is the hardest for me to handle. I rely heavily on my ability to recall details and manage organized systems in my head, without having to write everything down. Or if I write things down, it's usually just to help me commit things to memory. Once the list has been made, I very rarely need to consult it. Now, I'm forced to not only make lists and keep a calendar, but to regularly check them to make sure that I don't make any more mistakes like I did with my statistics exam.
The purpose of this blog entry is not necessarily to complain or whine, but to document my experience, as it is. After our little bundle of joy arrives, I may look back through my baby-tinted glasses and think that pregnancy was wonderful. But I want to document what pregnancy is really like, at least for me. I also hope to regain my mind, but from what I've heard from parents, it just gets worse!
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
read across america
Today, in celebration of the great Dr. Seuss' birthday, is Read Across America Day. In celebration of both the simple brilliance of Dr. Seuss and the wonder of reading, I'd like to share some of my favorite reading memories.
Before I even had memories, I loved books. My first book love, as my parents will tell you, was the Little Golden Book Five Little Firemen.
I wanted to hear it all the time and knew the book by heart. Ever the perfectionist, I would correct my parents if they skipped any words! It was an action-packed book with lots of cool onomatopoeia: with a wheeeeeeeeee and a whoooooooooooo and a cling-clang-cling! What little kid wouldn't want to hear that book again and again and again?!
My first memories of a specific book are my memories of my parents reading Horton Hears A Who to me. It was before I even started school, so I was quite young. I have many memories of this book being read to me, and my parents tell me that's because I demanded that it be read to me frequently. It was read to me so much, in fact, that I memorized the entire thing. To this day, I can still recite almost the entire book from memory.
Even at that tender young age, I was a nerdy pain in the ass. If my parents tried to read creatively in order to shorten the long book, I would promptly correct them. But my parents were great sports and I firmly believe that my love of reading comes from their patience and enthusiasm as they made books come alive for me. I still remember the squeaky Who voice that my mom used and I'm pretty sure that when I read the book to Lima Bean, my own Who voice will sound just like Ma's. As fun as it was to listen to, the book also carried a strong message that has been a foundation for how I live my life: A person's a person no matter how small. Just like Horton, I carry around my own speck on a clover. The image is tattooed on the back of my neck. Probably my most noticeable tattoo is on my arm, an unmistakably Seussian tree with an evil Wickersham Brother handing off the speck to a horrid Vlad-Vladikoff, a constant reminder to protect people from the bad in the world, no matter how small the people! Horton Hears a Who was an amazing vehicle for my parents to pass along core life lessons in a creative and entertaining package. There's no question that books are powerful and have the strength to move people, but it's amazing to see that strength so evident in a silly and fun children's book.
Fast forward a few years to my next favorite book memory. In fourth grade, my dad surprised me with a book. He had picked it out for me because he thought it looked like a book that I would like. The book was Frances Hodgson Burnett's A Little Princess. To this day, I'm not exactly sure if it's the story or the fact that my dad picked it especially for me that makes it one of my all-time favorite books. I think it's a combination of the two. I don't even know if my dad realized that the story had such a strong father-daughter focus, but that made it even more endearing to me. I remember covering the paperback copy in clear tape to provide a protective covering to this most special book!
Growing up, my Grandma Helen began a tradition of giving me leather-bound copies of classics as gifts. Because of her, I was introduced to Black Beauty, Heidi, Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, Pride and Prejudice, Anne of Green Gables, and Little Women, among others. From the first book, I was enchanted. I always looked forward to discovering which book I would get next; what world I would be introduced to. I even got a beautiful copy of A Little Princess to add to my collection! My grandmother always envisioned that I would have an impressive library. In an age where books are becoming obsolete, I treasure these foundations of my book collection. And I treasure the woman who taught me that a great library is a thing of value.
As an adult, books are no less valuable to me. Shortly after moving to Asheville, NC, I read Al Franken's Lies and the Lying Liars who Tell Them: A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right. This book was recommended to me by best friend Kathy, who lives in Kansas City. After reading the book, I remember a very long phone conversation, in which we discussed the book at length. More accurately, we read excerpts to each other, exclaimed, "Yeah! Yeah!" and laughed a lot. I loved the book, but loved that conversation with Kathy even more!
My next favorite book memory comes from sharing one of my favorite books. After reading Burnett's lesser-known A Little Princess, I went on to read her famous Secret Garden. And I fell in love. I distinctly remember the descriptions of the garden coming to life and being able to envision it as I read. When Jerry's daughter, Elyssa, spent a summer with us, I was excited to share this wonderful book with a lovely and imaginative 10-year-old girl. I read The Secret Garden to Elyssa, a little bit each night before bed. I loved snuggling up in her bed and making the book come alive for her. It warmed my heart when she'd opt out of another fun activity so that she wouldn't miss out on our bedtime reading. What a special memory that this wonderful book created for me!
As recently as this year, a new book memory has been created. Upon learning of my pregnancy, Ma searched through old boxes to find her copy of Ina May Gaskin's Spiritual Midwifery. This book had such a profound influence on her pregnancies with my brother and sister that she wanted to share it with me. And it was important enough to search through the dusty old boxes to find. I'm so grateful to have this book that was so important to my mother, whose opinions I respect and admire so much. It's also exciting to share books and experiences with my mother from woman to woman, not necessarily from mother to child.
In the process of writing this, I stumbled upon many other reading and book memories, but thought it best to limit the rambling. I hope that you all have many special reading memories of your own! Of course, books have the ability to transport individuals into other worlds and to open their imaginations. But looking at my favorite reading and book memories, it's clear that books also bring people together. And that's what I celebrate today. Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss and happy reading to all!!
Before I even had memories, I loved books. My first book love, as my parents will tell you, was the Little Golden Book Five Little Firemen.
My first memories of a specific book are my memories of my parents reading Horton Hears A Who to me. It was before I even started school, so I was quite young. I have many memories of this book being read to me, and my parents tell me that's because I demanded that it be read to me frequently. It was read to me so much, in fact, that I memorized the entire thing. To this day, I can still recite almost the entire book from memory.
Fast forward a few years to my next favorite book memory. In fourth grade, my dad surprised me with a book. He had picked it out for me because he thought it looked like a book that I would like. The book was Frances Hodgson Burnett's A Little Princess. To this day, I'm not exactly sure if it's the story or the fact that my dad picked it especially for me that makes it one of my all-time favorite books. I think it's a combination of the two. I don't even know if my dad realized that the story had such a strong father-daughter focus, but that made it even more endearing to me. I remember covering the paperback copy in clear tape to provide a protective covering to this most special book!
Growing up, my Grandma Helen began a tradition of giving me leather-bound copies of classics as gifts. Because of her, I was introduced to Black Beauty, Heidi, Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, Pride and Prejudice, Anne of Green Gables, and Little Women, among others. From the first book, I was enchanted. I always looked forward to discovering which book I would get next; what world I would be introduced to. I even got a beautiful copy of A Little Princess to add to my collection! My grandmother always envisioned that I would have an impressive library. In an age where books are becoming obsolete, I treasure these foundations of my book collection. And I treasure the woman who taught me that a great library is a thing of value.
As an adult, books are no less valuable to me. Shortly after moving to Asheville, NC, I read Al Franken's Lies and the Lying Liars who Tell Them: A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right. This book was recommended to me by best friend Kathy, who lives in Kansas City. After reading the book, I remember a very long phone conversation, in which we discussed the book at length. More accurately, we read excerpts to each other, exclaimed, "Yeah! Yeah!" and laughed a lot. I loved the book, but loved that conversation with Kathy even more!
My next favorite book memory comes from sharing one of my favorite books. After reading Burnett's lesser-known A Little Princess, I went on to read her famous Secret Garden. And I fell in love. I distinctly remember the descriptions of the garden coming to life and being able to envision it as I read. When Jerry's daughter, Elyssa, spent a summer with us, I was excited to share this wonderful book with a lovely and imaginative 10-year-old girl. I read The Secret Garden to Elyssa, a little bit each night before bed. I loved snuggling up in her bed and making the book come alive for her. It warmed my heart when she'd opt out of another fun activity so that she wouldn't miss out on our bedtime reading. What a special memory that this wonderful book created for me!
As recently as this year, a new book memory has been created. Upon learning of my pregnancy, Ma searched through old boxes to find her copy of Ina May Gaskin's Spiritual Midwifery. This book had such a profound influence on her pregnancies with my brother and sister that she wanted to share it with me. And it was important enough to search through the dusty old boxes to find. I'm so grateful to have this book that was so important to my mother, whose opinions I respect and admire so much. It's also exciting to share books and experiences with my mother from woman to woman, not necessarily from mother to child.
In the process of writing this, I stumbled upon many other reading and book memories, but thought it best to limit the rambling. I hope that you all have many special reading memories of your own! Of course, books have the ability to transport individuals into other worlds and to open their imaginations. But looking at my favorite reading and book memories, it's clear that books also bring people together. And that's what I celebrate today. Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss and happy reading to all!!
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
straining my ovaries
When she was alive, my grandmother expressed herself in pretty amusing ways. Certain situations always called for the same reaction from her. For instance, if I mentioned a boy's name (any boy's name), she'd promptly ask, "Oh, with a name like (fill in the boy's last name), what is he? Jewish? Irish? Italian? Polish? What?" In my mind, it was always that particular sequence, though that could be my memory creating a caricature of my grandmother. I can say for certain that the ethnic origin of my female friends was not important because this question was never asked in regard to them.
Another favorite expression was, "You're going to strain your ovaries!" This was in response to her seeing me exert myself by lifting or moving heavy objects, y'know, men's work. Of course, most of you realize that telling me something is men's work is a sure fire way to convince me that it is Heather's work. Because there's nothing a man can do that I can't! (I'm stubborn like that!)
I've always scoffed at the idea of 'straining my ovaries', but let me tell you, pregnancy has me re-thinking things! Like most tech-savvy moms-to-be, I'm quick to use the interwebs to determine if any and every pregnancy discomfort and sensation is 'normal'. So far, google has been my friend and has provided me the assurance I need that everything I'm experiencing is within the parameters of normal. My strained ovaries are no exception. Since the middle of the first trimester I get occasional pains that, to me, embody the feeling of strained ovaries. Sometimes they're brought on by a particularly robust sneeze or violent cough. And sometimes they're brought on by me temporarily forgetting I'm pregnant and twisting my mid-section a little too quickly for my growing body to handle. But every time I feel this particular pain, the first thing I think is, I'm straining my ovaries! Maybe those thoughts are really grandma letting me know that she's still watching over me and still making sure that I protect my precious ovaries. With a name like ovary, what is it? Jewish? Irish? Italian? Polish? What?
Another favorite expression was, "You're going to strain your ovaries!" This was in response to her seeing me exert myself by lifting or moving heavy objects, y'know, men's work. Of course, most of you realize that telling me something is men's work is a sure fire way to convince me that it is Heather's work. Because there's nothing a man can do that I can't! (I'm stubborn like that!)
I've always scoffed at the idea of 'straining my ovaries', but let me tell you, pregnancy has me re-thinking things! Like most tech-savvy moms-to-be, I'm quick to use the interwebs to determine if any and every pregnancy discomfort and sensation is 'normal'. So far, google has been my friend and has provided me the assurance I need that everything I'm experiencing is within the parameters of normal. My strained ovaries are no exception. Since the middle of the first trimester I get occasional pains that, to me, embody the feeling of strained ovaries. Sometimes they're brought on by a particularly robust sneeze or violent cough. And sometimes they're brought on by me temporarily forgetting I'm pregnant and twisting my mid-section a little too quickly for my growing body to handle. But every time I feel this particular pain, the first thing I think is, I'm straining my ovaries! Maybe those thoughts are really grandma letting me know that she's still watching over me and still making sure that I protect my precious ovaries. With a name like ovary, what is it? Jewish? Irish? Italian? Polish? What?
Sunday, February 27, 2011
my new best friend?
Clothes have become my enemy since I first discovered signs of being pregnant. On the cruise, the nausea was accompanied by bloating, which made pants unwelcome members of my wardrobe (except for jammy pants). Most women know the discomfort of bloating, even when not pregnant. The bloating never really went away and my belly started growing. So even though I still haven't really gained any weight, my pants have no interest in fitting anymore. I guess it was unfair to say that clothes have become my enemy. Really, it's just pants. Can you believe it? Pants?! My enemy?! I love pants!! Since returning from the cruise in December, I've spent most days in skirts and dresses with leggings. I've occasionally worn pants, using this clever contraption that attaches to regular (non-maternity) pants to extend the waistline, but then there are weird lumpies under my shirt. Plus, it's kinda like walking around with your pants unbottoned which just seems weird.
Despite my success with leggings, lately even they have put a little extra pressure on my ever-growing belly. So, I broke down and ordered some maternity clothes. Holy crap, these things are so freakin' comfortable, I can't even stand it!! Regular leggings have treated me well, but maternity leggings are amazing! That soft belly panel is the best thing ever! And maternity jeans will allow me to return pants to my wardrobe....wohoo! Of course, being the short girl that I am, the jeans were longer than my legs, so they're out being hemmed for me right now. But come Friday, I'll be wearing pants again and they'll no longer be my enemy! (Again, jammy pants never fell in the enemy category!)
So, my new best friend is maternity clothes. But don't worry, they can never replace my BFFs (you know who you are)!
Despite my success with leggings, lately even they have put a little extra pressure on my ever-growing belly. So, I broke down and ordered some maternity clothes. Holy crap, these things are so freakin' comfortable, I can't even stand it!! Regular leggings have treated me well, but maternity leggings are amazing! That soft belly panel is the best thing ever! And maternity jeans will allow me to return pants to my wardrobe....wohoo! Of course, being the short girl that I am, the jeans were longer than my legs, so they're out being hemmed for me right now. But come Friday, I'll be wearing pants again and they'll no longer be my enemy! (Again, jammy pants never fell in the enemy category!)
So, my new best friend is maternity clothes. But don't worry, they can never replace my BFFs (you know who you are)!
Friday, February 25, 2011
letter to lima bean
Mommy said that she was going to ask some important people to write letters to you. Since I'm important people, I figured that I should write one too, so that you'll know all about me.
For a long time, I was Mommy's only baby. I had some kitty roommates (Charlie, Banana and Hitler), but I was clearly Mommy's favorite. One night, Hitler tricked Mommy and got outside and then ran away!! It was pretty funny when Mommy went out after him. I could hear her calling, 'Here Hitler, Hitler!!' Hitler never came back.
Things changed when Mommy met Daddy. First of all, I didn't get to sleep in the bed anymore. It made me a little sad, but I did get my own bed in the bedroom and Mommy still made sure to give me lots of snuggles during the day time. I also liked having Daddy around because we would have fun together and he would play rough with me and, best of all, he would give me special treats that Mommy would never give me (like Pringles and Cheez-its...yummo!).
When we moved to Germany, Charlie and Banana moved to a new house so that they could stay in Asheville. This was fine with me because I now had Mommy and Daddy all to myself. And boy did I like that! Sometimes I forget that Banana doesn't live with us anymore and I run around the house looking for him if Mommy or Daddy say 'banana'. They seem to think it's funny, but I find it confusing!! So far, I like living in Germany. We have a big house and there are many places for napping. I also have my own yard! Mommy and Daddy stopped letting me sleep in their room though. Apparently my loud snoring keeps daddy from being able to fall asleep. It's really not that loud. Just 'cause I can be heard three floors away doesn't mean anything! When Daddy went to Iraq, I got to sleep in the bed...that was nice! Being in Germany is also fun because I have a next door neighbor, Bosley, that's also a pug. Friends are much better than roommates and family because they go home to their own house and I still get Mommy and Daddy to myself. Having a friend is also good because sometimes Bosley's mom likes to make me special treats and costumes and invites me to doggy parties!
Last year, Mommy and Daddy thought it would be a good idea for me to have a little sister. At first, I thought that was a pretty stupid idea and I didn't really like Moxii. She was always trying to sit on Mommy's lap, which is my place! And she kept trying to play with me, which was just kinda annoying. After a little while, I reluctantly discovered that I liked having her around. Don't get me wrong; it's still annoying that she follows me everywhere! But it's nice to have a friend and she likes to cuddle as much as I do. She makes a good pillow! My favorite is when Mommy sits with a blanket on the couch and both Moxii and I get to snuggle together with Mommy!
I guess Mommy and Daddy didn't think that a little sister was enough for me, so they brought me a little kitty brother, too. His name is Skittles. At first he was very very tiny and made strange hissing noises, especially
at Moxii, who kept trying to play with him. He grew big very quickly and I think that he might think that he's a pug too. But I know better. He's not as good-looking as a pug! He and Moxii are almost the same size now and they like to play rough! Now that I'm a big kid, I don't like to play rough as much anymore so I'm glad the little kids can play together and leave me alone. When Skittles isn't acting crazy, he likes to nap and snuggle. Sometimes all three of us snuggle with Mommy and Daddy...it's the best!!
Obviously, I like to snuggle. Here are some pictures of me snuggling with some special people when I was a little kid:
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| Me with Auntie, basking in the sun |
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| I love Nonna! You will too! |
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| Uncle Ryan looking like he should be in a magazine. |
Love and Snuggles,
Scooter
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
you are so beautiful
For some reason, I have this very vivid memory of a television commercial from when I was a kid living in Ohio. The commercial was for a program that showed monster movies. There were clips of the monster movies set to Joe Cocker's You Are So Beautiful. And that's what came to mind during my doctor's appointment today as I viewed the ultrasound images of our Lima Bean. The images are nothing but blurry blob and bone, yet all I can think is how beautiful they are:
Lima Bean clearly has already been working on a sense of humor. Even though today was picture day, Lima Bean decided that the best picture position was to face away from us. So not only did we not get to see Lima Bean's face, but the doctor was not able to determine the sex because Lima Bean was keeping that information private by facing away from the doctor! That's fine by us, because we don't want to know the sex ahead of time, but I still thought it was pretty funny! Even though I didn't see Lima Bean's face, I did get to see some pretty cool images of the spinal cord and femur.
It's hard to believe that we'll pretty much be at the halfway mark when we see our Lima Bean again next month!
Lima Bean clearly has already been working on a sense of humor. Even though today was picture day, Lima Bean decided that the best picture position was to face away from us. So not only did we not get to see Lima Bean's face, but the doctor was not able to determine the sex because Lima Bean was keeping that information private by facing away from the doctor! That's fine by us, because we don't want to know the sex ahead of time, but I still thought it was pretty funny! Even though I didn't see Lima Bean's face, I did get to see some pretty cool images of the spinal cord and femur.
It's hard to believe that we'll pretty much be at the halfway mark when we see our Lima Bean again next month!
Friday, February 18, 2011
they painted the car blue!!
Normally, a trip to the PX serves as a kind of birth control. The terrible behavior of children and the even worse behavior of their parents often encourages me to never have children. Today I witnessed a rare moment in the PX that made me smile and look forward to the sweet raw enthusiasm and innocence of our own child in a few years.
For the past several weeks, there have been new cars in the atrium of the PX mall. Last week, there was an orange car. But today, the orange car had been replaced by a shiny blue Mustang. A mom and a little boy were leaving the food court and approaching the atrium when the little boy said incredulously, "(gasp!) Mom, they painted the car blue!!!" There was so much joy and excitement in his discovery that it was hard not to get caught up in the moment with him, even just overhearing him in passing. The mom explained, "I think that this one is actually a different car." The boy was not convinced. His response: "or maybe they painted the car blue!!"
I'm with the kid. I think they painted the car blue :-)
For the past several weeks, there have been new cars in the atrium of the PX mall. Last week, there was an orange car. But today, the orange car had been replaced by a shiny blue Mustang. A mom and a little boy were leaving the food court and approaching the atrium when the little boy said incredulously, "(gasp!) Mom, they painted the car blue!!!" There was so much joy and excitement in his discovery that it was hard not to get caught up in the moment with him, even just overhearing him in passing. The mom explained, "I think that this one is actually a different car." The boy was not convinced. His response: "or maybe they painted the car blue!!"
I'm with the kid. I think they painted the car blue :-)
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
angels
Recently a friend in the States announced on Facebook that her daughter was selling Girl Scout cookies. I wanted to support the good Girl Scout cause, but my fat ass certainly doesn't need boxes of cookies! So I thought I'd take the opportunity to support two good causes: the Girl Scouts and our deployed servicemembers. I purchased my 16 boxes of GS cookies and told my friend that I'd provide an address for a unit serving downrange to send the cookies to. The troop is now going to send my order and other donations downrange. I know that Jerry appreciated getting care packages downrange and really enjoyed the Girl Scout cookies that came his way, so I'm happy to pay it forward!
So I was feeling pretty good about combining two great causes, but I still had the challenge of identifying a unit serving downrange to send the cookies to. Most of the units that I know personally are either about to come home or won't be leaving for several months. By chance, I received an e-mail message today about sending some care packages to medical personnel serving downrange. I e-mailed the coordinator of the project to see if it might be a good group to send these Girl Scout cookies to. It ended up not being a good fit, because the personnel are spread out, but the coordinator directed me to a wonderful site that I'd like to encourage everyone to visit: Soldiers' Angels.
I'm hoping to put the Girl Scout troop in touch with this organization. One of the Soldiers' Angels projects is delivering cases of Girl Scout cookies to our deployed soldiers. But the project that really struck a chord was the adopt-a-soldier program. I know that there are other similar programs (AnySoldier) and they're probably just as good. Basically, deployed soldiers sign up or are nominated by others to be 'adopted'. The 'angels' that adopt them have to apply and make a commitment to send the soldier at least one letter per week and one care package per month. Obviously, that's quite a commitment, but one that can mean a lot to a soldier serving downrange. I think that it could be a great program to participate in as part of a couple or a family. Everyone could be involved and could rotate letter writing. I hope that some of you will consider participating in this wonderful program.
I was also excited to see that there's a German chapter of the program and it's located at the post where I'll be starting to work in the next couple of months. I hope that I'll be able to volunteer (because I won't be busy enough with work, school, and being a new mom!) and positively impact the lives of wounded soldiers who are flown to Germany.
So I was feeling pretty good about combining two great causes, but I still had the challenge of identifying a unit serving downrange to send the cookies to. Most of the units that I know personally are either about to come home or won't be leaving for several months. By chance, I received an e-mail message today about sending some care packages to medical personnel serving downrange. I e-mailed the coordinator of the project to see if it might be a good group to send these Girl Scout cookies to. It ended up not being a good fit, because the personnel are spread out, but the coordinator directed me to a wonderful site that I'd like to encourage everyone to visit: Soldiers' Angels.
I'm hoping to put the Girl Scout troop in touch with this organization. One of the Soldiers' Angels projects is delivering cases of Girl Scout cookies to our deployed soldiers. But the project that really struck a chord was the adopt-a-soldier program. I know that there are other similar programs (AnySoldier) and they're probably just as good. Basically, deployed soldiers sign up or are nominated by others to be 'adopted'. The 'angels' that adopt them have to apply and make a commitment to send the soldier at least one letter per week and one care package per month. Obviously, that's quite a commitment, but one that can mean a lot to a soldier serving downrange. I think that it could be a great program to participate in as part of a couple or a family. Everyone could be involved and could rotate letter writing. I hope that some of you will consider participating in this wonderful program.
I was also excited to see that there's a German chapter of the program and it's located at the post where I'll be starting to work in the next couple of months. I hope that I'll be able to volunteer (because I won't be busy enough with work, school, and being a new mom!) and positively impact the lives of wounded soldiers who are flown to Germany.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
i heart vd
And of course I mean Valentine's Day. Because I do not heart venereal disease. I realize that not everyone hearts Valentine's Day and for some, it may be on equal standing with venereal disease. It's interesting to see the varied responses to Valentine's Day on Facebook. While some love the day (those both in and out of relationships), others are a little mopey because they don't have a special someone to share the day with, and still others are quite anti-Valentine's Day.
For the past six Valentine's Days, I've been lucky enough to be in a relationship with the love of my life. So currently I have no real complaints about Valentine's Day. Prior to the last six Valentine's Days, I had never been in a relationship of the romantic type on February 14. While I remember that sometimes the day made me downy clowny and wish that I was sharing the day with someone special, I can't remember begrudging the happiness of others. In some ways, it surprises me that people can have such a strong negative and bitter response towards the day. Of course, I may be looking at my past through the rose-colored glasses of someone in a committed relationship, but I believe that I didn't harbor bitterness. And I think there's a good reason for that: my dad.
No matter what, I have always known that there's one man who thinks I'm special and who has made a point of letting me know that every year on Valentine's Day. To this day, my dad still sends me a heart-shaped box of chocolates every single year on Valentine's Day. I've written about this before and about how much it has meant to me over the years. But this year, it occurred to me that he's the reason that I haven't been bitter about Valentine's Days when I've been alone. So if any daddies are reading this, know that you have the power to make your little girl feel special and loved throughout her life. That love goes a long way in giving your daughter the confidence to be patient for romantic love and to be happy for those who are enjoying romantic Valentine's Days. For those of you who aren't daddies or who aren't lucky enough to have thoughtful daddies like mine, there are ways to make your Valentine's Days full of love too. Instead of focusing on love that is missing from your life, I think it's important to focus on the love that is in your life, even if it's not of the romantic variety.
I hope that everyone reading this felt some love on Valentine's Day this year, whether from your signficant other or from your parents or from your children or from your bffs. Valentine's Day can be a great reminder of the love that each and every one of has in our lives.
And Valentine's Day is not just for people. This year, Scooter and Moxii spent some time with their best bud, Bosley, who hosted a Valentine's party, complete with pupcakes made by Bosley's mom, Jade. Jade also made special Valentine's scarves for all of the pugs:
For the past six Valentine's Days, I've been lucky enough to be in a relationship with the love of my life. So currently I have no real complaints about Valentine's Day. Prior to the last six Valentine's Days, I had never been in a relationship of the romantic type on February 14. While I remember that sometimes the day made me downy clowny and wish that I was sharing the day with someone special, I can't remember begrudging the happiness of others. In some ways, it surprises me that people can have such a strong negative and bitter response towards the day. Of course, I may be looking at my past through the rose-colored glasses of someone in a committed relationship, but I believe that I didn't harbor bitterness. And I think there's a good reason for that: my dad.
No matter what, I have always known that there's one man who thinks I'm special and who has made a point of letting me know that every year on Valentine's Day. To this day, my dad still sends me a heart-shaped box of chocolates every single year on Valentine's Day. I've written about this before and about how much it has meant to me over the years. But this year, it occurred to me that he's the reason that I haven't been bitter about Valentine's Days when I've been alone. So if any daddies are reading this, know that you have the power to make your little girl feel special and loved throughout her life. That love goes a long way in giving your daughter the confidence to be patient for romantic love and to be happy for those who are enjoying romantic Valentine's Days. For those of you who aren't daddies or who aren't lucky enough to have thoughtful daddies like mine, there are ways to make your Valentine's Days full of love too. Instead of focusing on love that is missing from your life, I think it's important to focus on the love that is in your life, even if it's not of the romantic variety.
I hope that everyone reading this felt some love on Valentine's Day this year, whether from your signficant other or from your parents or from your children or from your bffs. Valentine's Day can be a great reminder of the love that each and every one of has in our lives.
And Valentine's Day is not just for people. This year, Scooter and Moxii spent some time with their best bud, Bosley, who hosted a Valentine's party, complete with pupcakes made by Bosley's mom, Jade. Jade also made special Valentine's scarves for all of the pugs:
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| All the pugs patiently waiting for pupcakes!! |
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| Nomnomnom...Scooter enjoying his pupcake. |
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| Miss Moxii loves her some pupcake! Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!! |
Sunday, February 13, 2011
lima bean
As we neared the end of our cruise vacation, I began to think that perhaps my constant nausea had nothing to do with the motion of the ocean. Putting the pieces together, it seemed quite likely that I was pregnant. Jerry and I had just started trying to start our family the month before, so I honestly didn't think that it would happen so quickly. But the combination of my constant nausea and extreme fatigue made me think that maybe I was pregnant. I also had become extremely sensitive to smells, which I remember other pregnant women describing. Every time I went anywhere near the casino, where smoking was allowed, my stomach lurched from the smell of the smoke! When we were in Malta, I almost bought a pregnancy test, but then decided to wait until we returned to Germany. I didn't really talk about any of this with Jerry, but he was noticing that I wasn't quite myself and saw me eyeing the pregnancy tests in Malta.
We got back to Germany on a Friday evening, and just missed getting back to post in time to get to the PX or commissary, so I had to wait one extra day to get the pregnancy test. On Saturday, we bought the test and I peed on the stick as soon as we got home. Boy, did that plus sign appear quickly! I left the bathroom shaking and Jerry asked what the test said. I told him that we were pregnant and with a big smile, he said, "I told you I was potent!" That made me laugh and cry and he gave me a big hug and said, "Congratulations, baby!"
Wow, the flood of emotions was overwhelming! Of course, this is what we had both wanted. But the reality of bringing a life into the world is a bit scary! Along with the joy and excitement came the worry of being a good parent and of taking the best care of this child, starting now while it's in the womb. The first trimester is also a little stressful because of the higher chance of miscarriage. I was worried about getting too excited or too connected to the little lima bean already growing inside of me.
Of course, I was excited to tell my family the news...they (especially Ma) have been asking about when we were going to have a baby for quite some time now. But no one was answering their cell phones. They were at a baby shower for my cousin Megan at the time and didn't have good cell reception. I wanted Ma to be the first to know, but I had to tell someone. So my best friend Kathy got to hear the news first and she was very excited for us! Then I was able to get my sister on the phone and told her. She was beside herself!! I ended up leaving my mom a message saying that she couldn't expect to be the first to know if she didn't answer her phone and that she could call Kim for the details. I spoke to my parents the next morning and they were over the moon with excitement....finally they get to have a grandbaby!
I was able to get the pregnancy confirmed at the health clinic on Monday and then had an appointment scheduled with a German OB the following week. Though I was only a little over 7 weeks along, the OB did an ultrasound and I was able to hear my Lima Bean's heart beat! What an amazing experience. It made the whole thing real for me. The image was nothing more than a pulsing speck, but knowing that it was our baby made it the most beautiful sight in the whole world! The OB was extremely kind and gentle and I was so glad that we chose him, even though his office is 40 minutes away and we'll be having to change doctors when we move in the next couple of months. He repeatedly said that everything was perfect, just the word that a mom-to-be wants to hear.
The weeks between the first and second doctor's appointment went by so slowly! We were waiting to share the big news with everyone until we had a good report from the second visit. Which really means that we were waiting to put the news on Facebook. Because by the time the second doctor's visit came around, we had already told a lot of people! It seemed impossible not to share such amazing news with our friends and families!
I wish I could say that the nausea and tiredness faded away, but it's still going strong, even now in the early weeks of the second trimester. I'm hoping that will change soon, but if this is how it needs to be to grow Lima Bean into a strong and healthy baby, then I'll just have to live with it.
The second doctor's visit went as well as the first. The ultrasound image was so different. Instead of a pulsing speck, our Lima Bean actually looked like a baby:
You can see a spinal cord and little toesies! Lima bean even hiccuped during the ultrasound...how cool!! We were so excited to be able to 'officially' spread the news that I posted a status update on Facebook in the car on the way home from the doctor's. The outpouring of well wishes on Facebook was amazing! Sharing good news on Facebook is such a great experience!
I'm now starting my 14th week and am looking forward to the months ahead and to the birth of our precious baby. At least for now, we're not planning on finding out the sex of our little one until he or she makes his/her appearance in the world. But these days, the 3D ultrasounds may show a picture that's too clear for us to ignore. Jerry is certain that he's having a girl, while my dad is planning to be here 'for the birth of his grandson.' Whether a boy or a girl, I know that Lima Bean's life is going to be filled with a lot of love from a lot of people!
We got back to Germany on a Friday evening, and just missed getting back to post in time to get to the PX or commissary, so I had to wait one extra day to get the pregnancy test. On Saturday, we bought the test and I peed on the stick as soon as we got home. Boy, did that plus sign appear quickly! I left the bathroom shaking and Jerry asked what the test said. I told him that we were pregnant and with a big smile, he said, "I told you I was potent!" That made me laugh and cry and he gave me a big hug and said, "Congratulations, baby!"
Wow, the flood of emotions was overwhelming! Of course, this is what we had both wanted. But the reality of bringing a life into the world is a bit scary! Along with the joy and excitement came the worry of being a good parent and of taking the best care of this child, starting now while it's in the womb. The first trimester is also a little stressful because of the higher chance of miscarriage. I was worried about getting too excited or too connected to the little lima bean already growing inside of me.
Of course, I was excited to tell my family the news...they (especially Ma) have been asking about when we were going to have a baby for quite some time now. But no one was answering their cell phones. They were at a baby shower for my cousin Megan at the time and didn't have good cell reception. I wanted Ma to be the first to know, but I had to tell someone. So my best friend Kathy got to hear the news first and she was very excited for us! Then I was able to get my sister on the phone and told her. She was beside herself!! I ended up leaving my mom a message saying that she couldn't expect to be the first to know if she didn't answer her phone and that she could call Kim for the details. I spoke to my parents the next morning and they were over the moon with excitement....finally they get to have a grandbaby!
I was able to get the pregnancy confirmed at the health clinic on Monday and then had an appointment scheduled with a German OB the following week. Though I was only a little over 7 weeks along, the OB did an ultrasound and I was able to hear my Lima Bean's heart beat! What an amazing experience. It made the whole thing real for me. The image was nothing more than a pulsing speck, but knowing that it was our baby made it the most beautiful sight in the whole world! The OB was extremely kind and gentle and I was so glad that we chose him, even though his office is 40 minutes away and we'll be having to change doctors when we move in the next couple of months. He repeatedly said that everything was perfect, just the word that a mom-to-be wants to hear.
The weeks between the first and second doctor's appointment went by so slowly! We were waiting to share the big news with everyone until we had a good report from the second visit. Which really means that we were waiting to put the news on Facebook. Because by the time the second doctor's visit came around, we had already told a lot of people! It seemed impossible not to share such amazing news with our friends and families!
I wish I could say that the nausea and tiredness faded away, but it's still going strong, even now in the early weeks of the second trimester. I'm hoping that will change soon, but if this is how it needs to be to grow Lima Bean into a strong and healthy baby, then I'll just have to live with it.
The second doctor's visit went as well as the first. The ultrasound image was so different. Instead of a pulsing speck, our Lima Bean actually looked like a baby:
I'm now starting my 14th week and am looking forward to the months ahead and to the birth of our precious baby. At least for now, we're not planning on finding out the sex of our little one until he or she makes his/her appearance in the world. But these days, the 3D ultrasounds may show a picture that's too clear for us to ignore. Jerry is certain that he's having a girl, while my dad is planning to be here 'for the birth of his grandson.' Whether a boy or a girl, I know that Lima Bean's life is going to be filled with a lot of love from a lot of people!
Cruise: Day Twelve, The End
Thursday, 16 December
Day Twelve– At Sea
I started the day with Bingo, where I lost lost lost lost. Then I checked out the lame-o clearance stuff at the store and then got a coffee for Jerry Giant.
Lunch buffet.
Check out shops with Jerry
Started watching Tango Buenos Aires, but lost interest and got a hot chocolate instead. I met Jerry at end of the show to play final jackpot Bingo….again, we lost lost lost. But had fun doing it!
Shower and then dinner time.
Packed.
Casino Watching. Last drinkies…beer for Jerry. Vanilla white Russian for me.
Bought pictures.
Retired for the night.
Overall, the cruise wasn't the best vacation for us. In addition to the obvious issues in Egypt, we discovered that 12 days is just too long for us on a cruise, especially if there are a lot of days at sea. The activities did not really interest us and the outrageous drink prices dampened the enjoyment. Jerry moped a lot of the time and spent a lot of time in our room, which just made me feel bad, since I had done most of the trip planning. The full refund certainly went a long way in not feeling too bad about it, but we definitely learned that we wouldn't do a similar trip in the future. We're looking forward to other cruises, but they will be shorter!
Dinner:
Jerry – Calamari, Beefsteak tomato salad, Lamb chops, Flan and Pistachio Ice cream
Hev – Calamari, Caesar Salad, Spinach Quiche, Baklava and Pistachio Ice cream
Finished our wine package with a bottle of bubbly
Day Twelve– At Sea
I started the day with Bingo, where I lost lost lost lost. Then I checked out the lame-o clearance stuff at the store and then got a coffee for Jerry Giant.
Lunch buffet.
Check out shops with Jerry
Started watching Tango Buenos Aires, but lost interest and got a hot chocolate instead. I met Jerry at end of the show to play final jackpot Bingo….again, we lost lost lost. But had fun doing it!
Shower and then dinner time.
Packed.
Casino Watching. Last drinkies…beer for Jerry. Vanilla white Russian for me.
Bought pictures.
Retired for the night.
Overall, the cruise wasn't the best vacation for us. In addition to the obvious issues in Egypt, we discovered that 12 days is just too long for us on a cruise, especially if there are a lot of days at sea. The activities did not really interest us and the outrageous drink prices dampened the enjoyment. Jerry moped a lot of the time and spent a lot of time in our room, which just made me feel bad, since I had done most of the trip planning. The full refund certainly went a long way in not feeling too bad about it, but we definitely learned that we wouldn't do a similar trip in the future. We're looking forward to other cruises, but they will be shorter!
Dinner:
Jerry – Calamari, Beefsteak tomato salad, Lamb chops, Flan and Pistachio Ice cream
Hev – Calamari, Caesar Salad, Spinach Quiche, Baklava and Pistachio Ice cream
Finished our wine package with a bottle of bubbly
Cruise: Day Eleven
Wednesday, 15 December
Day Eleven – Malta
Late Start - getting some much needed rest on a docked ship!
Windjammer Lunch Buffet
Walk to top of the hill. I've been so exhausted throughout the trip that I wasn't looking forward to the steep walk. But it wasn't too bad! Along the way, we encountered a Cat café, where food and shelter were left for the many feline inhabitants of the area. We then visited a human café for cappuccino and hot chocolate. More drizzlage.
Window shopping….great glass store!
Looked for interesting chess board, possibly with knights of Malta, but no luck.
Returned to the ship and said goodbye to Malta. Although I'm sad we missed Egypt, I'm glad that we got the extra day in Malta. We'd love to go back for a longer visit. It's a beautiful and charming place that doesn't seem extraordinarily overpriced!
Dinner
String Fever show - really great!
Quest. Super funny. I had a frozen mojito….different and yummo.
Bottle of wine in the room with middle of the night room service treats: Caesar salad, pepperoni pizza, international cheese plate, cookies of the day (oatmeal raisin…I hate raisins and had to eat around them on my cookie). Room service was a challenge because we discovered that our ‘incident’ broke our phone. We could hear the other end, but the other end couldn’t hear us. But we were determined and found a way!
Dinner:
Jerry – Onion soup (not French, so no cheese), Tempura, Banana Parfait
Heather – Spinach artichoke dip (a little bland), Gnocchi in cream sauce (not so good so I exchanged it for tempura), Fish & Shrimpy Tempura (super yummy), Brownie/Mousse thing that wasn’t so moussey, Jerry’s was yummier
Day Eleven – Malta
Late Start - getting some much needed rest on a docked ship!
Windjammer Lunch Buffet
Walk to top of the hill. I've been so exhausted throughout the trip that I wasn't looking forward to the steep walk. But it wasn't too bad! Along the way, we encountered a Cat café, where food and shelter were left for the many feline inhabitants of the area. We then visited a human café for cappuccino and hot chocolate. More drizzlage.
Window shopping….great glass store!
Looked for interesting chess board, possibly with knights of Malta, but no luck.
Returned to the ship and said goodbye to Malta. Although I'm sad we missed Egypt, I'm glad that we got the extra day in Malta. We'd love to go back for a longer visit. It's a beautiful and charming place that doesn't seem extraordinarily overpriced!
Dinner
String Fever show - really great!
Quest. Super funny. I had a frozen mojito….different and yummo.
Bottle of wine in the room with middle of the night room service treats: Caesar salad, pepperoni pizza, international cheese plate, cookies of the day (oatmeal raisin…I hate raisins and had to eat around them on my cookie). Room service was a challenge because we discovered that our ‘incident’ broke our phone. We could hear the other end, but the other end couldn’t hear us. But we were determined and found a way!
Dinner:
Jerry – Onion soup (not French, so no cheese), Tempura, Banana Parfait
Heather – Spinach artichoke dip (a little bland), Gnocchi in cream sauce (not so good so I exchanged it for tempura), Fish & Shrimpy Tempura (super yummy), Brownie/Mousse thing that wasn’t so moussey, Jerry’s was yummier
Cruise: Day Ten
Tuesday, 14 December
Day Ten – Malta
We started the day with a great excursion: walking tour of Valetta, bus ride to Mdina, walking tour of Mdina. We had a wonderful tour guide, Daz (Darryl). We split off from group when they went to the boring Archeological Museum and checked out the shopping and ate delicious cannoli instead :-)
After the excursion, we briefly went back to the ship to get jackets. Though the day was sunny and beautiful, it was December and a bit chilly. We planned to take the bus back into Valetta, but it never showed up. Instead, we shared a cab with a lovely honeymooning couple and returned to the city. We went back to the main street and had a meal which included local beer (Cisk), local wine, bruschetta (yum!), and octopus in wine and garlic (not so yum, but very octopussy!). We also made a new cat friend who liked the octopus WAY more than we did!!
For dessert, we went to a gelato café and got some expensive scoops. I got experimental flavors, coffee crunch and biscotto, while Jerry played it safe with hazelnut and stracchiatelli. All was yummy but I think I like my German eis better.
We walked along the shopping area and got Jerry a Maltese soccer shirt, me some Hello Kitty Woman perfume and both of us more cannoli. So yummy and only 80 cents each! We walked back (downhill) to the ship and rested shortly before dinner.
We had a beautiful night view from our room:
After dinner we rested a bit and then went out for some drinks, majority rules game, more drinks and a chess game, which I totally lost! Great day after many not so great ones!
Dinner
Jerry – Creamed wild mushrooms in puff pastry (really a roll), Prime Rib, Cherries Jubilee
Hev – Creamed wild mushrooms in puff pastry (really a roll), Thai “BBQ” chicken (not BBQ at all, but very tasty), Low-Fat Passionfruit (?) Cheesecake
5th Bottle of wine – Castle Rock Cab (sound familiar?)
Drinks –
Jerry – Two Ulitmate pina coladas
Hev – Guava Lava Flow and Patron Perfect Margarita
We got the glasses!
Day Ten – Malta
We started the day with a great excursion: walking tour of Valetta, bus ride to Mdina, walking tour of Mdina. We had a wonderful tour guide, Daz (Darryl). We split off from group when they went to the boring Archeological Museum and checked out the shopping and ate delicious cannoli instead :-)
After the excursion, we briefly went back to the ship to get jackets. Though the day was sunny and beautiful, it was December and a bit chilly. We planned to take the bus back into Valetta, but it never showed up. Instead, we shared a cab with a lovely honeymooning couple and returned to the city. We went back to the main street and had a meal which included local beer (Cisk), local wine, bruschetta (yum!), and octopus in wine and garlic (not so yum, but very octopussy!). We also made a new cat friend who liked the octopus WAY more than we did!!
We walked along the shopping area and got Jerry a Maltese soccer shirt, me some Hello Kitty Woman perfume and both of us more cannoli. So yummy and only 80 cents each! We walked back (downhill) to the ship and rested shortly before dinner.
We had a beautiful night view from our room:
After dinner we rested a bit and then went out for some drinks, majority rules game, more drinks and a chess game, which I totally lost! Great day after many not so great ones!
Dinner
Jerry – Creamed wild mushrooms in puff pastry (really a roll), Prime Rib, Cherries Jubilee
Hev – Creamed wild mushrooms in puff pastry (really a roll), Thai “BBQ” chicken (not BBQ at all, but very tasty), Low-Fat Passionfruit (?) Cheesecake
5th Bottle of wine – Castle Rock Cab (sound familiar?)
Drinks –
Jerry – Two Ulitmate pina coladas
Hev – Guava Lava Flow and Patron Perfect Margarita
We got the glasses!
Cruise: Day Nine
Monday, 13 December
Day Nine – At Sea
The day at sea after ‘the incident’ was really quite boring. There were still many things that weren’t open, areas where there wasn’t power, and the kitchens had really taken a hit, impacting food service throughout the day. Our day started quite late, since we took advantage of the calmer sea to get extra sleep in. On our stateroom door, we found a letter stating that we would receive a $200 credit to the stateroom to compensate for our troubles. That seemed quite insufficient, though I was glad to see that there was quick response and action taken to address the inconvenience and the fear that we all endured. A little miffed at the paltry compensation, we proceeded to the lunch buffet. The lunch buffet was pretty meager and not that great. The afternoon was fairly uneventful, though there was supposed to be a meeting with the hotel manager in the afternoon to discuss the compensation. Apparently, the Spanish-speaking guests got out of hand and ‘revolted’, screaming at the hotel manager. The meeting was canceled and an announcement was made letting everyone know that a shipwide announcement would be made at 7:00, during our dinner. Dinner service was much better , with full service, though the pre-planned menu was missing many items. The highlight of the dinner was the 7:00 announcement, which informed us all that in addition to the $200 credit, we would each receive a full refund for our cruise! Wow…that was completely unexpected and very generous and went a long way in lifting spirits. Of course, there are still people griping, but those people will never be happy. After dinner, we went to the evening’s musical production, which was quite enjoyable, especially the swing number. After that, I hit the casino and turned $20 into $60, setting me ahead $70 on this trip…woohoo! While I played the slots, Jerry took advantage of the free internet service being provided for the day. I followed suit and e-mailed my family to let them know we were okay.
Then it was time for bed since we had an excursion scheduled the next morning in Malta.
Dinner:
Hev – Maryland crab cakes, Rack of lamb, Apple crunch
Jerry – Shrimp Cocktail, Rack of Lamb, Cappucino cake?
Fourth bottle of wine – Castle Rock Cab
Day Nine – At Sea
The day at sea after ‘the incident’ was really quite boring. There were still many things that weren’t open, areas where there wasn’t power, and the kitchens had really taken a hit, impacting food service throughout the day. Our day started quite late, since we took advantage of the calmer sea to get extra sleep in. On our stateroom door, we found a letter stating that we would receive a $200 credit to the stateroom to compensate for our troubles. That seemed quite insufficient, though I was glad to see that there was quick response and action taken to address the inconvenience and the fear that we all endured. A little miffed at the paltry compensation, we proceeded to the lunch buffet. The lunch buffet was pretty meager and not that great. The afternoon was fairly uneventful, though there was supposed to be a meeting with the hotel manager in the afternoon to discuss the compensation. Apparently, the Spanish-speaking guests got out of hand and ‘revolted’, screaming at the hotel manager. The meeting was canceled and an announcement was made letting everyone know that a shipwide announcement would be made at 7:00, during our dinner. Dinner service was much better , with full service, though the pre-planned menu was missing many items. The highlight of the dinner was the 7:00 announcement, which informed us all that in addition to the $200 credit, we would each receive a full refund for our cruise! Wow…that was completely unexpected and very generous and went a long way in lifting spirits. Of course, there are still people griping, but those people will never be happy. After dinner, we went to the evening’s musical production, which was quite enjoyable, especially the swing number. After that, I hit the casino and turned $20 into $60, setting me ahead $70 on this trip…woohoo! While I played the slots, Jerry took advantage of the free internet service being provided for the day. I followed suit and e-mailed my family to let them know we were okay.
Then it was time for bed since we had an excursion scheduled the next morning in Malta.
Dinner:
Hev – Maryland crab cakes, Rack of lamb, Apple crunch
Jerry – Shrimp Cocktail, Rack of Lamb, Cappucino cake?
Fourth bottle of wine – Castle Rock Cab
Cruise: Day Eight
Sunday, 12 December
Day Eight – Alexandria (sort of)
Sleeping was pretty difficult; the extreme rocking made it hard to do anything other than doze on and off. A little before 3:00am, we were woken up by a large noise, followed by us moving with the bed across the stateroom! Back and forth we went as the boat tilted one way and then the other. It was very scary and I was shaking. I had one arm across the bed holding onto the back of Jerry’s t-shirt and the other arm out keeping me from slamming into the balcony door when the bed slid to that end of the room. In the middle of the sliding, elevator music started playing which was a little surreal. Apparently the phone had been knocked to speaker and we were listening to hold music or something. Everything was falling and sliding and then finally it stopped. We turned the lights on and the room was a mess! The floor was strewn with papers and shoes. The table was knocked over and against the door. All of the bathroom toiletries were all over the bathroom floor. The bed had slid a couple feet away from the headboard and was almost against the balcony doors and the nightstands were both tipped over. The light switch was hanging off the wall, with exposed wires, but still functioning.
A few minutes after the crazy rocking subsided, the captain of the ship addressed us all over the PA system. Apparently, we were heading into the port of Alexandria and it was littered with unanchored ships riding out the storm. It was impossible to continue into the port, so the ship had to be turned into the wind and the speed slowed down so much that the stabilizers couldn’t do their job. He assured us that everything was fine and made several announcements throughout the night, first telling everyone to go to their staterooms, then letting us know that our stateroom attendants would be checking on each room, and then telling us that a great deal of damage was sustained throughout the ship and that the crew was working on cleaning it up and assessing the damage. Too shaken up to fall back sleep right away, we started watching the karate kid.
We left our room around noon and the effects of the night before were everywhere. There were bags of broken items at every landing. The giant Christmas tree in centrum had fallen and lay across the center of the centrum. Glass walls were shattered. Furniture broken.
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Before |
Cruise: Day Seven
Saturday, 11 December
Day Seven – At Sea
We’re on our way to Egypt and excited, but not enjoying the choppy waves that are taking us there. We woke up pretty late, but in time to participate in the Make a Wish Walk, or so we thought. Unfortunately the rough water meant that the walk had to be postponed to another day when it wouldn’t be so dangerous to be briskly walking around. All sorts of stuff was cancelled including a poolside barbecue, the big production for the evening, and both pools and the gym were closed. We went back to the room after buffet lunch and watched some Scrubbies. Jerry wanted to stay in the room, but I was a little stir crazy so I went out and about. I picked up our passports, now bearing Egypt stamps and then spent a little time in the casino, where I turned $40 into $81.50 on a slot machine! I checked out the ship shop, still debating on whether to buy a necklace that I’ve had my eyes on. I went to the coffee shop and ran into Jerry. I got some cookies and then we split ways…he went back to the room and I went to the Solarium so that I could get some studying done. That was a mistake. The solarium had water sloshing around on the floor and there was no soda service. Defeated, I returned to the room where we finished the season of Scrubbies and got in some napping. I haven’t been feeling that great and wasn’t up for formal night in the dining room, especially with heels on this rockin’ boat. Strange that I'm feeling queasy. Even though the water's been rocky, I can't say I can remember ever haveing motion sickness in my life! We went to the buffet and walking around on this ship was challenging, but kinda a fun adventure. It was interesting seeing the barf bags left on each landing just in case passengers needed it. The rocking was so severe that the centrum elevators were closed for awhile.
We also took advantage of the empty arcade to get in some air hockey...my favorite!
Back at the room, we settled in for a quiet evening. It wasn’t as quiet as we’d like because the rocking was causing the medicine cabinet in the bathroom to slam open and shut in the bathroom and the television to swing loudly back and forth. In addition to being loud, it made it difficult to watch television! Jerry remedied the situation by stuffing a pillow next to the television, keeping it firmly in place!
Day Seven – At Sea
We’re on our way to Egypt and excited, but not enjoying the choppy waves that are taking us there. We woke up pretty late, but in time to participate in the Make a Wish Walk, or so we thought. Unfortunately the rough water meant that the walk had to be postponed to another day when it wouldn’t be so dangerous to be briskly walking around. All sorts of stuff was cancelled including a poolside barbecue, the big production for the evening, and both pools and the gym were closed. We went back to the room after buffet lunch and watched some Scrubbies. Jerry wanted to stay in the room, but I was a little stir crazy so I went out and about. I picked up our passports, now bearing Egypt stamps and then spent a little time in the casino, where I turned $40 into $81.50 on a slot machine! I checked out the ship shop, still debating on whether to buy a necklace that I’ve had my eyes on. I went to the coffee shop and ran into Jerry. I got some cookies and then we split ways…he went back to the room and I went to the Solarium so that I could get some studying done. That was a mistake. The solarium had water sloshing around on the floor and there was no soda service. Defeated, I returned to the room where we finished the season of Scrubbies and got in some napping. I haven’t been feeling that great and wasn’t up for formal night in the dining room, especially with heels on this rockin’ boat. Strange that I'm feeling queasy. Even though the water's been rocky, I can't say I can remember ever haveing motion sickness in my life! We went to the buffet and walking around on this ship was challenging, but kinda a fun adventure. It was interesting seeing the barf bags left on each landing just in case passengers needed it. The rocking was so severe that the centrum elevators were closed for awhile.
We also took advantage of the empty arcade to get in some air hockey...my favorite!
Back at the room, we settled in for a quiet evening. It wasn’t as quiet as we’d like because the rocking was causing the medicine cabinet in the bathroom to slam open and shut in the bathroom and the television to swing loudly back and forth. In addition to being loud, it made it difficult to watch television! Jerry remedied the situation by stuffing a pillow next to the television, keeping it firmly in place!
Cruise: Day Six
Friday, 10 December
Day Six – Rhodes
We woke up at 9:30 in the port of Rhodes, Greece. We had a great view from our window/balcony and at first sight I could tell that I was going to like this port of call. As usual, we started our day at the breakfast buffet and headed out to the city of Rhodes immediately after. Unlike most ports, here the ship docks just a short walk away from the places you want to see. The old town is surrounded by a wall that is actually still the original. Going through one of the stone archways you reach a pedestrian area (though there are plenty of scooters and there were still several cars) filled with little shops, cafes and restaurants. The streets were a cobblestone made of small stones.
The morning was beautiful and sunny with a brief sprinkling of rain in the bright sunshine. The sellers in the marketplace were not pushy and aggressive, something I very much appreciated! We managed to get ourselves turned around a bit in the windy little streets, but eventually made it back to the main marketplace area. Since we still had several hours in port, we returned to the boat for a bit with the intention of returning in the early afternoon when we were hungry so that we could enjoy and good meal. We set back out around 1:30 and the day had turned cooler. We entered the city through a different archway and made our way up to the palace of the knights, which was pretty cool. One of our dinner couples told us that the palace was actually reconstructed because the original was blown up when lightning struck a tower containing a secret stash of gunpowder! We then decided it was time to eat and started toward the main marketplace. In the center square, several restaurant owners were trying to convince us to eat at their establishments. We didn’t really like how aggressive they were being, so we decided to look further. We should have picked a place then. Because the heavens opened up a few minutes later and we were soaked, huddling under awnings, trees and alleyways. We ultimately sat at an outdoor restaurant under the umbrellas that did a great job of keeping out the rain. Jerry asked for a big beer and got a giant beer in a boot.
It was pretty hilarious. When he got to the beer that was in the toe of the boot, there would be a whirlpool effect with air bubbling up and the beer would explode in his face. I found it funnier than he did! Jerry also got a gyro plate and I got some dolmidas (?) – stuffed grape leaves. Jerry made a kitty friend (there were cats everywhere) that he shared his meal with.
Everything was pretty good and seemed reasonably priced, until we got the bill – 34 euros! The food was 13 and I got a diet coke, meaning the beer must have been nearly 20 euro!!! No wonder the guy was pushing the big beer! I saw two little Indian women at a table near us had also each been served a giant beer in a boot. The rain had finally calmed down and we grumpily returned to the ship, having been beer scammed.
Back at the ship it was time for our afternoon nap, followed by dinner. After dinner, we decided to skip the show as it seemed to be a little Barry Manilow-y. We chilled in the room until it was Bingo time. Another bingo loss under our belts, but it was fun.
After the show, we took a nice walk around the ship and tested ourselves to see how well we would have done as contestants on the show. We would have lost big time!!
Then we returned to the room for the night.
Dinner:
Jerry – Onion Foccacia, Sirloin, Coconut parfait
Hev – Samosas, Cauliflower Soup, Fried Chicken, Cappucino Cake (Yummo)
Finished our third bottle of wine.
Cruise: Day Five
Thursday, 9 December
Day Five – Piraeus (Port), Athens
We had to wake up the earliest yet, to go on our first formal excursion. After a quick buffet breakfast, we went downstairs to the theatre to join up with our group and get our bus number (22). Within a few minutes we were shuffled like cattle down to the gangplank (?) and out to a bus. We were quick to separate ourselves from an annoying young couple…the man/boy in particular was extremely obnoxious and kept mocking Greek men and insinuating they were all gay. Completely not funny. Aboard our bus, we met our guide, Dmitri, who reminded me of Walter on Fringe. He was a little hard to follow at times, but well-meaning and funny. Our bus took us from the port of Piraeus to downtown Athens, where we stopped at the stadium that was the site of the first Olympic games in 1896.
Return bus ride through downtown Athens took us past the house of parliament where we were lucky enough to see the changing of the guards of the memorial to unknown soldiers as we passed by.
Other buildings were pointed out, but I fell asleep and woke up right before we got back to the ship! It’s tough work staying awake.
We went straight to lunch and then it was naptime for much of the afternoon, after completing three chapters of studying and finishing Room (such a good book!). I also had finished Mockingjay a few days before which completed the Hunger Games, a great series. I love how much pleasure reading I’ve been able to do!
After dinner, we checked our e-mail for the first time since leaving! I’ve enjoyed not being tied to e-mail, which surprised me. We took care of a few things with guest services and then went to the evening’s show, an illusionist and his fiancée pretty girl partner. The illusions were quite good, but the choreography was a little silly and the pretty girl had a freakish smile and really poor dancing skills, especially for someone who bills herself as someone who has been dancing since she was two! After the show, we gambled a little (me losing $10 on the slots after quite awhile and Jerry losing $40 quickly at roulette).
Then we went back to the room and ended our evening with some reading and TV watching.
Dinner:
Jerry – Minestrone, Shrimp Cocktail, Fried Eggplant with Tomato on a Crust Thing, Angel Food Cake, Sherbet
Heather – Creamy Garlic Soup, Strawberry Soup (cold), Roast LambShank, Tiramisu (Made with Kahlua-yumyumyum)
Started 3rd bottle – same Cab
Day Five – Piraeus (Port), Athens
We had to wake up the earliest yet, to go on our first formal excursion. After a quick buffet breakfast, we went downstairs to the theatre to join up with our group and get our bus number (22). Within a few minutes we were shuffled like cattle down to the gangplank (?) and out to a bus. We were quick to separate ourselves from an annoying young couple…the man/boy in particular was extremely obnoxious and kept mocking Greek men and insinuating they were all gay. Completely not funny. Aboard our bus, we met our guide, Dmitri, who reminded me of Walter on Fringe. He was a little hard to follow at times, but well-meaning and funny. Our bus took us from the port of Piraeus to downtown Athens, where we stopped at the stadium that was the site of the first Olympic games in 1896.
From there, we could also see the Acropolis in the distance, our main destination for the day. After our brief stop at the stadium, we continued on our journey to the Acropolis. I was nervous about the 200 to 300 step climb, but our guide took it pretty slowly with several stops and it didn’t feel like much of a climb at all! It was pretty amazing when we finally reached the acropolis and saw the Parthenon. What an amazing experience.
Then we went to a Greek gift shop, where we saw overpriced junky junk. We didn't buy anything (that would leave less money for the casino and bingo!)
Return bus ride through downtown Athens took us past the house of parliament where we were lucky enough to see the changing of the guards of the memorial to unknown soldiers as we passed by.
Other buildings were pointed out, but I fell asleep and woke up right before we got back to the ship! It’s tough work staying awake.
We went straight to lunch and then it was naptime for much of the afternoon, after completing three chapters of studying and finishing Room (such a good book!). I also had finished Mockingjay a few days before which completed the Hunger Games, a great series. I love how much pleasure reading I’ve been able to do!
After dinner, we checked our e-mail for the first time since leaving! I’ve enjoyed not being tied to e-mail, which surprised me. We took care of a few things with guest services and then went to the evening’s show, an illusionist and his fiancée pretty girl partner. The illusions were quite good, but the choreography was a little silly and the pretty girl had a freakish smile and really poor dancing skills, especially for someone who bills herself as someone who has been dancing since she was two! After the show, we gambled a little (me losing $10 on the slots after quite awhile and Jerry losing $40 quickly at roulette).
Then we went back to the room and ended our evening with some reading and TV watching.
Dinner:
Jerry – Minestrone, Shrimp Cocktail, Fried Eggplant with Tomato on a Crust Thing, Angel Food Cake, Sherbet
Heather – Creamy Garlic Soup, Strawberry Soup (cold), Roast LambShank, Tiramisu (Made with Kahlua-yumyumyum)
Started 3rd bottle – same Cab
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Cruise: Day Four
Wednesday, 8 December
Day Four – At Sea
The day didn’t start that well for either of us. It was an At Sea day, so we planned to take advantage of some sleeping in time. Poor Jerry woke up at 5 with a yucky tummy. I woke up at 9:00 from a nightmare that I woke myself up from with my own yelling. Yikes! Since there was about zero chance that I’d get back to sleep, I went to the top of the ship for a little exercise. I walked a mile on the jogging track. Or maybe more. I lost count of my laps so I may have done an extra one :-) Then I went into the fitness center and walked/jogged a mile on the treadmill and a few minutes on the elliptical. I was wiped, so I grabbed some granola and yogurt from the buffet and brought it down to the room, where I enjoyed it on our balcony. Back in the room, Jerry was cacooned in bed, still not feeling well. After a shower, I went back up to the buffet place where I set up my studying and got some good studying in until Jerry met me for lunch. After a quick lunch, Jerry was ready to return to the room and bed. I did some more studying and then returned to the room where Jerry was laying on the bed, saying he was cold. I stayed for a little bit and began my new book, Room. Soon Jerry was cacooned in the covers again and I had to go to bingo by myself. I wasn’t even close to winning bingo until the last round, where I was one away from getting a wipeout bingo. But I didn’t. When I got back to the room, Jerry was still sleeping and had red sick face. He mustered enough energy to shower and join me for dinner, but after that he was ready to retire to the room. Without any drinking or gambling! That tells you how crappy he felt! In the room, we watched our second rented episode of Glee and then watching Star Trek on Cruise TV. Not much of an eventful day!
Dinner:
Me – Mussels & Scallops in Garlic Butter (Like Escargot), Coq au Vin with Mushrooms & Polenta (yum, but bones in), Chocolate Hazelnut Tart with Ice Cream (not as good as I’d hoped)
Jerry – Shrimp Cocktail, Tuscan White Bean Soup, Penne (that was actually spaghetti) with tomatoes, onions and garlic, French Apple Tart with Vanilla Ice Cream
Day Four – At Sea
The day didn’t start that well for either of us. It was an At Sea day, so we planned to take advantage of some sleeping in time. Poor Jerry woke up at 5 with a yucky tummy. I woke up at 9:00 from a nightmare that I woke myself up from with my own yelling. Yikes! Since there was about zero chance that I’d get back to sleep, I went to the top of the ship for a little exercise. I walked a mile on the jogging track. Or maybe more. I lost count of my laps so I may have done an extra one :-) Then I went into the fitness center and walked/jogged a mile on the treadmill and a few minutes on the elliptical. I was wiped, so I grabbed some granola and yogurt from the buffet and brought it down to the room, where I enjoyed it on our balcony. Back in the room, Jerry was cacooned in bed, still not feeling well. After a shower, I went back up to the buffet place where I set up my studying and got some good studying in until Jerry met me for lunch. After a quick lunch, Jerry was ready to return to the room and bed. I did some more studying and then returned to the room where Jerry was laying on the bed, saying he was cold. I stayed for a little bit and began my new book, Room. Soon Jerry was cacooned in the covers again and I had to go to bingo by myself. I wasn’t even close to winning bingo until the last round, where I was one away from getting a wipeout bingo. But I didn’t. When I got back to the room, Jerry was still sleeping and had red sick face. He mustered enough energy to shower and join me for dinner, but after that he was ready to retire to the room. Without any drinking or gambling! That tells you how crappy he felt! In the room, we watched our second rented episode of Glee and then watching Star Trek on Cruise TV. Not much of an eventful day!
Dinner:
Me – Mussels & Scallops in Garlic Butter (Like Escargot), Coq au Vin with Mushrooms & Polenta (yum, but bones in), Chocolate Hazelnut Tart with Ice Cream (not as good as I’d hoped)
Jerry – Shrimp Cocktail, Tuscan White Bean Soup, Penne (that was actually spaghetti) with tomatoes, onions and garlic, French Apple Tart with Vanilla Ice Cream
Cruise: Day Three
Tuesday, 7 December
Day Three – Palermo, Sicily
As we neared three hours of walking, we found a small bakery/café and ordered a small pizza, German bier, Cola Light and 2 Cannoli for about 7euro (that's an amazing deal!)! All was yummy and we returned to the ship with happy tummies, even though we didn’t get to the gelato or lemoncello.
Day Three – Palermo, Sicily
Mini Breakfast in Room, followed by breakfast buffet
10:20 out in Palermo
Two+ hours of walking. Noisy, dirty, bustling city. Lots of scooters. Crossing the street felt like taking our lives in our hands. Not what either of us expected and we didn’t really enjoy it, despite some cool buildings.
If we were to go back to Sicily, it would definitely NOT go back to Palermo. We've heard good things about other parts of the island, but Palermo was pretty awful. Talking to others on the ship, it sounds like we're not the only ones who had a bad impression of the city!
Back at the ship we took a nice nappy and then headed up to the buffet for some mid-afternoon snackies. So far, the cruise definitely has napping and eating themes!
Visited the Crown & Anchor loyalty program to fix Jerry's status (since he had cruised with RC before on our honeymoon).
Quick visit to the casino to cash in quarters from the previous day.
Champagne bar for appetizers, caviar & champagne cocktails. Bellini sunset for me and our friendly bartender made Jerry a champagne cocktail with brandy. He was superfriendly as he gave us a round on the house to take with us to dinner.
Dinner:
Me – Spanikopita type thing: Pastry crust over ramekin filled with feta, spinach and peppers, tai chicken salad, beef Diane with mashed potatoes, broccoli, carrots and mushrooms and Kahlua crème brulee
Jerry – Shrimp cocktail, , beef Diane with mashed potatoes, broccoli, carrots and mushrooms and Kahlua crème brulee
Finished off second bottle in wine package (Cab)
Casino – Jerry roulette, Slots for me. Jerry lost his $40 pretty quickly but I played $5 for a very long time. I think that's why I like slots.
Back to the room for some chillaxing & studying. Studying because the cruise falls right in the middle of my finals. Both professors were kind enough to let me take the exams after the semester has officially ended, but it means putting in some study time on vacation.
My arm is sore – not sure if it’s from the workout yesterday or the slot machine pulling!
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