July 2006

Ah yes, a trip back home. I returned just this afternoon from watching my sister Kim become Mrs. Kimberly Kozlowsky (or is that Kozlowski? - ugh). I was actually a small part of the ceremony, reading the Blessing of the Apache’s - something me and Carleen had the pastor read for our wedding, so that was kinda neat. Though nerve-wracking. My 2 grandmothers seated behind me kept rubbing my back thinking I was shaking from the cold. Nope, that’s why I got a D in Public Speaking.

The trip there was a bit of a story. Thunderstorms in Chicago wreaked havoc all day Thursday. I would have basically been stranded in Chicago till Saturay at 10:30am. After a few frantic phone calls to Carleen, who put her reference librarian skills to good use getting me a bus ticket. A 16 hour bus ride. Ouch. Interestingly, though, I had 2 Religious guy experiences. The first guy was in the bus terminal in Chicago. This was the typical bus station religious creep. Stinky, pompous, and “holier-than-thou”. One of those guys who, saw Hell in one form or another and decided the alternative was better. No true belief, he just wants to be sure. Yet, he still held this attitude like he was better than everyone else. Even going so far as to compare me to the “suicide-bombers” in Iraq. I was far too polite with this jerk, but I was:

• in Chicago
• being talked up by a crazy religious guy

so, many different scenarios played in my mind at what would happen if I blew up at this guy, none of them good. Being the natural diplomat, I feigned Narcolepsy. This back-fired a bit in that he neither left, nor stopped talking to me, believing that I was merely praying for redemption. I was praying, but not for redemption - I was praying to lose my sense of smell.

My second “religious -guy” experience came on the bus trip. I was sitting next to a guy also heading to Syracuse. He was attending Ministry School in Knoxville Tennessee. I can’t remember why he was heading home - my brain being so befuddled from missing out on sleep for 2 straight days. He neither preached, nor asked me about my beliefs, of which I was grateful. He simply engaged me in pleasant conversation, telling me that me and my family ( I told him about Liam) would be in his prayers. He also gave me his phone number and address, which was really amazing of him.

This whole thing gave me a tremendous idea for a book. I would take a cross-country bus trip (stopping at hotels along the way), writing about all the people I met along the way. I’d have to be a far more “people-person” than I am, but it’s a good idea. What was the story with the truck driver wearing the Panama Jack straw hat? What about the Amish couple who got on in Erie, PA with their newborn child? I think that’d be a lot of fun!

Anyway, the wedding. It rained all day, but it did stop just long enough for the ceremony, which was nice. Tears were shed all around, heck, I almost lost it while I was reciting the Blessing. I can’t not cry when I see my mom cry, plus my sister was leaking like a sieve. The food was excellent. I didn’t mingle at all, for that I’m disappointed with myself. There were so many of my family that I hadn’t seen in so long, I really wish I had talked with everyone at least a little. I’m just not a mingler - even with family. I did, however, get a chance to talk with my cousin Cara and we exchanged emails, so perhaps that’s the first step to reaquainting myself with my family.

Ok, so you made it this far and you’re now wondering, “Why the subject, Wedding Bells & Trash Cans? Where are the trash cans?” Here, my friend. While I was away, Carleen discovered that our trash can in the garage has holes in it. It leaked, and our garage smells like sour milk (my assessment) or carcass (Carleen’s assessment - which leads me to wonder exactly what she was up to this weekend….). So obviously we need a new trash can, but that begged the question, How do you throw away a garbage can? You can’t set it out by the curb, the garbage guys will never take it. You can’t write “Trash” on it, they’ll just think, “Duh!”. So, how do you throw away a trash can?

Too cute!

So, we’re still trying to decide on Liam’s middle name. We were set on Alexander for awhile, but I have a cousin named Alexander and for some reason it just didn’t feel right naming our kid that too. Then I was set on Roan, which is Irish for “little seal” and is also a place name in northern Norway. Just as Mike started to warm up to Roan, I came up with Liam Blake Huxley. Mike said that he was ok with Blake but prefered Roan and then suggested Matthew or David. I’m definitely not a big fan of David, Matthew I could possibly do with a little convincing. Last time we spoke of middle names, Mike was warming up to Blake. Meanwhile, I’m starting to like Roan better. Ahhh me…decisions.

As I sit here, writing this, my big-fat buddha belly is flip-flopping like jello. It’s the oddest feeling. I’m convinced that if I layed down on my back and steadied a glass of water on my stomach, Liam’s movements would have enough force to knock the glass comletely over.

Mike leaves for New York tomorrow to watch his little sister Kim get married. I’m really excited for him just because I think he needs a little break from this place. I’m sad that I won’t be able to go with him and take part in the celebrations. Sadder still that I won’t be able to sink myself into my parents-in-laws wonderful jacuzzi…although, with the 105 degree heat outside I think Lake Ontario would be more suitable to my needs right now. At any rate, I’m going to be by myself for the weekend and it’s my goal to finish up the nursery while Mike is away.

We’re having a kind of heat wave here right now. Actually, I think there’s pretty much a heat wave everywhere in this country at the moment. It’s been like this for three days. To make things worse, our air conditioning isn’t working properly. In some rooms it doesn’t even feel like there’s any cool air coming out at all. I feel cranky. My body feels pretty bloated and “thick” around the curves. Six weeks left. I hope this discomfort is short lived.
Turbo update: I believe he’s doing better. He gave me a little scare last night after he got sick a few times but he seems to be doing ok now, his appetite is still good, his personality is back although I sometimes find him to be more anxious then usual. This might have something to do with the steriods he’s on, I don’t know. As for his slipped disk, it doesn’t appear to be giving him any more problems. Despite his improvement, I still find myself being extremely paronoid about his health. I think I just worry that the steroids are masking his ailments to the point where when he comes off them, the same symptoms will come back. We’re slowly weening him off them now. I guess we’ll see what happens.
I’m definitely tired and worn out. Every small thing seems to take an extra amount of energy to accomplish now. It’s difficult to find a comfortable position at night so I don’t often sleep so well. Besides, Turbo’s heart medication makes him drink more which means I have to get up more often at night to let him out. I’m keeping up with yoga alright but I haven’t really managed a consistent regime of walking for awhile, especially now with this heat. Yeah, so…pregnancy is becoming a little more cumbersome here lately.

I don’t think I’ve mentioned on here yet, but I’ve spent most of the summer helping in the Local and Family History section of the library. I’ve really been enjoying myself there. It’s been a nice change of pace compared to reference. The questions are often much more interesting to work on (ie..can you help me open my email vs. can you help me research my native american ancestors). I spend a lot of time looking up obituaries in old newspapers. This can be a lot of fun since it often means coming across interesting stuff like this announcement about a young girl who apparently died…or did she:

“The fast girl who died of cocaine and was burried last Monday is now being dug back up. Someone says she isn’t dead”

The 1950’s are always neat to look through, especially all the fashion advertisements. I also came across an interesting opinion article one time:

WE, THE WOMEN by Ruth Millet

The young woman who tackels her first job when she’s just out of school usually develops a business like attitude without much trouble. From nine to five she is all business.
But the woman who gets her first business experience after being a housewife for a number of years often fails to develop a “business personality.”
She carries her “good neighbor” policy into the office-where it is entirely out of place.
She gossips across her typwriter, the same way she used to gossip across the back fence.
She carries on long personal telephone conversations the way she used to do at home after the breakfast dishes were finished.
She tells all her troubles and personal business to the people who work in the same office.
She gets chummy with the salesmen who want to do business with her firm, until she finds it hard to get rid of a caller without a long chat.
She encourages her friends to stop by the office and see her whenever they are in the neighborhood.
She never goes in for tailored neat clothes, but goes right on wearing the kind of clothes she used to wear to bridge parties and to church on Sunday.
None of those errors need to be, if a woman realizes that they are mistakes a woman not used to the business world, is likely to make.
And if she will compare her business manner and habits with those of the successful women around her, she can tell easily whether or not she has adapted herself to the business world.

Even though I was only there for a few weeks I thought it would be a good idea to join a Geneolgy listserve, just for the heck of it. They had an interesting discussion going on the other day about “strange” town names, like Monkey’s Eyebrow, Kentucky. There was also apparently a local history published for a small town known as Climax. The book was titled, perhaps not so strategically, Climax: Before and After. Apparently it’s a real collectors item today. Then there was the Iowa newspaper announcement from 1964, when a young man and young girl, one from Manly, Iowa the other from Fertile united in marriage. The announcement read “Manly Man marries Fertile Girl”. Yeah, definitely had some good times in the Local and Family History section this summer.

So, I think I’ve finally gotten over my little whiney stage concerning the whole maternity leave thing. It’s a sucky situation but it’s time to refocus and start planning. It’ll be tough for the first few months, trying to balance school, work and baby but I’ve got a great, unbelievably fantastic husband and wonderful supportive parents and parents-in-law all there to help. Together we’re gonna raise a wonderful little boy and I can’t wait…

So, the plan for now is for Mike and I to both continue working where we are. We just can’t afford to do otherwise. If all goes well, I’ll pass my comprehensive exam in October and finish my last class in December (hopefully with most of my sanity intact). Meanwhile, I’m going to start sending my resume out now in hopes that I may be able to land a full time position with salary as soon as possible, somewhere in Oklahoma, hopefully within driving distance (is this really so much to ask?). As long as they can pay me the equivalent to what Mike and I are making together right now, then Mike will potentially be able to stay at home with Liam. Our plan is still to someday move up North somewhere, but for now, we have a house that’s paid for which is a very good reason not to do anything reckless like skipping town with very little money saved up, minimal job experience, a new baby and an ailing dog.