Baby Macarena

I'm 3 weeks old today!!! Gotta dance!
Hey Marcarena!
And some funny facial expressions - looks like he's going yo - g - sippin on boob -
and just hanging with the homies - yo!

Mood Swings

Little Noah has some serious mood swings.

Peaceful and quiet one moment...and one minute later wailing like a baby banshee.

Strolling

Today Noah and I went for a walk to the grocery store. He was a good boy and stayed awake the whole time, just watching the world. We also took Noah to the kite festival yesterday, which was incredibly packed with people. There was not a lot of wind thou, at least when we went. So we didn't see many kites. We watched the Oscars last night, which is a treat. It's fun to sit and talk about how awful so and so's dress looks, ie Charlize Theron, or how great a dress looks.

Here's some stroller pictures,
And Noah's favorite thing to suck on: Daddy's fingers. We have learned he needs fingers and a car seat to fall asleep at night - not a pacifiers and cradle kind of kid.

Car Seat

My little weirdo likes to sleep in his car seat more than his cradle. He'll sleep in the car seat all day and all night. We figure he can't keep doing this, it would look kind of fun to see a 20 year old sleeping in a car seat. Oh well, we'll see what happens.

Me likes the precious...

Thanks Uncle Abram for the great mobile.

Rough Day

Today poor little Noah had to go to the doctor for a check up in the morning. And he also was circumsized (sp?) in the afternoon. So his morning started off with a mean ol' nurse pricking his foot to draw blood. And his evening was wrapped up with major pain to his prick...poor guy. His screaming in pain is not one of my favorite things to listen to.

On the plus side, we discovered gas medicine, which hopefully will help him sleep better at night. Way to go little guy, today was a rough one.

The day started out sooo peaceful...a little sleep..finally...he did sleep in his car seat half the night...it was a gas thing.

Then on to the doctor's office, where the first poking and prickings of the day began.

Then Noah finds out what's really going on this evening. "You're going to do WHAT to me?@?@#"

All's well that ends well, for those not getting circumsized, those giants who let this happen to poor little Noah.

A Noah a Day

keeps Grandma happy! Soon I'll get a site for little Noah.

Here's a picture from today:

Noah discovers a pretty pattern.
Noah takes a nap -yes another and one of many! It's nap, nap, nap, poop, nap nap nap, eat and poop...so napping at the moment is a favorite hobby.

Welcome to the world...

Noah Joseph. Born at 7:47 am on February 21, weighing in at 7 lbs. 13 oz., 20 in. long.

Noah minutes after he was born.
Mommy and Noah in the icky hospital.

Daddy and Noah - getting burped.
Noah today - napping and chilling in his bouncy chair.

Crapagon - Book 1 for 2006

Eragon - By Christopher Paolini

This book sucks and I am wasting my time writing about it. Alas, I will do so, because I am trying to keep track of the books I have read. So I guess that is a valid enough reason. Sure the author was 17 years old when he wrote the book, that's pretty evident.

I don't appreciate his plot tactic which causes the main character to faint everytime there is a major transition in the story. The dialog is dull. The story idea started off interesting enough, but his pacing was not great - too fast at time, too slow at others.

I had to force my self to finish it. I am not the best at finishing things. I'm great at starting new projects, books, etc...I am working on finishing things up. AndI did it with this book - eeegads was it pure torture.

I like how this one amazon reviewer summoned up the book:

"Overuse, and improper use, of language - no stars
Boring, one dimensional characters - no stars
Boring one dimensional and repetitive plot devices - no stars
Absence of originality, but the weyrcat pretty cool anyway - one star
Brom/Eragon relationship okay - one star
Eragon/Arya relationship (with yucky adolescent wet dreams) - MINUS one star.
Getting me to read The Eye of the Wheel - 3 stars
Having my husband leave me annoying voice mail in a deep raspy voice saying "I love you little one" - 5 stars
And that adds up to one star. No Paolini in my future."

This is a great book if you need something to put you to sleep. Unfortunately for me, we bought the second book before we finished the 1st one...I'm worried I might pick it up.......ack.....toliet paper perhaps?

Apples

Did you know there are over 7,500 know cultivators of the apple? I really like apples, and I have taken to trying and buying a different apple each week we go to Central Market. Central Market has about 15 different types of apple. I was a regular buyer of the Granny Smith apple. But I have challenged myself to try some different apples, the Grannies can get tiresome.

Recently I have tried:

Pink Lady Apples - These apples are firm with a sweet and sour flavoring. I am of fan of crispy, crispy sweet apples. So lo and behold this is not one of my more favorite apples. It would receive a 7 or 8 on my apple meter. "This is a cross between a Golden Delicious and a Lady William."

Jazz Apples - Apparently this is an apple created in New Zealand, bred from a Royal Gala and Braeburn apple. I LOVE this apple, it is sweet, juicy, and crunchy-crispy. MMMM!! It reminds me of Honeycrisp Apples - another lovely little apple, that is sweet and super crispy. "Taste: Jazz begins with a sweet Gala rush that carries over to a tangy effervescence. Its crispness and crunch are unbeatable." A 10 ++ apple!

Rome Beauty - This apple was boring. It had little flavor and it was way too soft for my tastes. Upon researching it on the net I have learned this apple is "primarily a cooking apple" and its "flavor enhances with a touch of sugar or honey." A little history on the Rome Beauty: "A tree planted in Rome, Ohio, in the 1820s, sent up a shoot from below the graft-the part of the tree that is not supposed to bear fruit. Orchardists generally lop these unwanted shoots off, but this branch survived to bear beautiful red fruit." While deciptively beautiful, it's still crap. Maybe I'll have to try it with some honey and sugar. For it fails my apple test - I'll give it a 1 - because I'll give it one more chance with some honey.

Morpheus

I am like the greek god Morpheus. How about you? You can take the quiz here. I stole this from funky James.

Law School #1

We heard back from one law school today - it was a yes from the University of Texas. While Kyle considers this his "fall back school", I was very excited and proud that he got in to UT. I'm not going to law school just living vicariously through Kyle. And I say we because what ever decision he makes on where to go to law school includes the both of us - so I'm moving where ever he goes.

Now we wait for the other 4 to reply: Yale, Northwestern, University of Michigan, & Columbia. The waiting game sucks!!!

Hook-em Horns!!!!!! NATIONAL CHAMPS!!!

THE MAN!!!

I didn't stay up the whole time, because I kept thinking how 5th period would break me if I didn't get enough sleep. I was woken up at midnight by people screaming around our complex...so we guessed they won. And due to the awesome view we have of downtown A-town, we were able to assess the glowing orange UT tower - which signfies VICTORY!!!

The Longhorns are In-VINCE-able!!!

Adios 2005

I finished:

Book #10 - A Feast for Crows - George R.R. Martin
The fourth book in the Fire and Ice epic - it was somewhat satisfying. (It took me a month to read, Kyle finished it in like 3 days.) I say somewhat because, if you know anything about the series, it left out the perspectives of some of my favorite characters. Also, I feel like Martin can get over detailed in the political aspects of the world. Still a very colorful book, I love his description of the world.

What's up with me reading 10 books in 12 months? That's pretty sad if you ask me...maybe I should start including comic books. I'm going to read new books in the New Year, somehow, someway, and I'm counting kid books because I'll probably reading a lot of those.

I wish there was someway to scan my brain to recall memories. I'm looking for a song that I heard on a compilation cd. I can't remember the name of the artist, the name of the song, or how it goes, thus it is driving me nuts. Sometime if I think enough about something, it'll come back to me...but nothing so far on the matter as been sparked. ACK!!!

Happy 5th night of Hannukah!

Going's ons

Lucky central Texans can't drive in icy weather! Cuz today we had a bad weather day, and that meant going out for lunch and shopping time...whohoo!

What I have been up to lately:

-I have discovered scrapbooking...which is already highly addictive. The little sticker kits are sooo cute. Look at those tiny little grilling tools. It also gives me something to do with all the knick knacks I save from trips, like tickets, other random things, even rocks sometime (I picked up some cool rocks in Dover, England...not that those would fit in a scrapbook, but who knows.) Anyone sticker collect back in the early 80s? Remember those scratch n' sniff stickers? Aww, those were cool. Now I can use my childhood skills of collecting crap on artistic scrapbook pages. I'm working on putting together pictures from our Chicago trip.

-finishing up the 2nd season of Scrubs.
Funny stuff!!!!

-trying to finish A Feast for Crows - which has been slow going because of work and exhaustion and all that good stuff.


and pretty much just general loafing.

We did see The Aristocrats - which has been quoted as being the "The feel good movie made out of fecal matter". This movie goes to all parts of "over there" that I never knew existed. I'm find I am still a young jedi in this realm of disgustingness. The documentary did give me some ideas though to incorporate. I don't recommend seeing this movie while eating.

The baby continues to grow and grow. We started childbirth classes. I was pretty scared after watching a video in the first one. The talks of pain and labor length have continued in subsequent classes. But I guess it's better to know what is going on that not to know, right?

Ack, school tomorrow! Boooooooooooo 8 (

Larry and the Lousy Liberty

Well there it is. He traded in his GMC truck for this baby. It's nice - if you like tape players in your car. There is a strange chirping sound coming from the engine. I told him it was probably a bird. Oh well, he has 5 days to consider returning the car.

5 more days till a week of freedom from students...it can't come quick enough.......

Unicorns

I snuck some pictures of unicorns at my brother's all Unicorn art show. I wasn't sure I was supposed to do so, but I did and felt a little criminal about it too. Was I? I guess I'll never know. Unless my brother calls and yells and screams at me.

Anyways here's some unpornographic uni-art. I didn't take pictures of the porno unicorns. I didn't realize people felt such a sexual connection to the horny beast.


1. Bubbalicious -my brother's piece. I hope it won, I tried to stuff the ballot box.



2. I thought this one was kind of sweet. I guess she's naked, but it looks innocent to me.


3. A Kyle pleaser.


4. Earthy unicorns.

5. Neato comic stripesque unicorns and women.

I have two more, but I've lost the patience with the photo uploader, it's taking too long!

Happy point in my day: I found out there is transparency overhead maker machine at work. I always sing Aladdin's "A Whole New World" when I make such delicious discoveries....and now I do the Happy, happy, joy joy dance.

Feeling Blue

Not in a sad way, just getting tired of the pink. Maybe it's the baby boy wanting to represent.

Yesterday, I was mui no bueno - I was sick. I had to go to the doctor in everything. Nothing to bad and I feel much better today, and I'm really not going to get into all the details.

I'm back in the game today.

Books Update

I feel like I can't, or don't, or won't, or don't have the time to read as much, which sucks. I have delusions that I might have the day to lounge by a sunny window reading a classic like Anna Karenina (which I've started a dozen times the past 5 years) or just plain reading something enjoyable. Seems I have neither the time, nor can I find something engrossing like the days of Sweet Valley High and Babysitters Club.

I did read:

Book #8 - Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - which I finished in 3 days, over the summer. This book was much better than the previous, a much less whinier Harry, good solid plot line - I was hooked.

Book #9 - The Mermaid Chair - which I did not like at all, but I had started the book, so it was a sympathy finish. I finished it on the Vegas trip. It was painful, maybe because it was about an older woman going through a mid-life crisis, maybe it was because the book's plot felt so obviously contrived - I hate when books do that. Sue Monk Kidd's other book Secret Life of Bees was sooooo much better. I like how one Amazon reviewer puts it "Loved Life of Bees, but this is Daniel Steel."

I think I need to have Jelly Belly's around the house more often.

We had a family baby shower yesterday. It was a lot of fun. Friends shower to occur at a later date. I'll write more about that later...let's just say the highlight was watching my Uncle F. crawling on his knees like a baby....whoa! Can't get that image out of my head.

And I'm getting a little tired of the Spam commenters...must be a way to remedy that nuisance.

Homage to the Jelly Belly:

Ken and Barbie Update

Is it me or does Ken look a little to posh and stylish for his own good? Except for the 80s, he really isn't representing that era. He should be more "Boy George" less G-Dub. And where's the 90s flannel. I don't know what the 00s are, looks like surfer dude, is that what the kids are wearing these days? The kids I see have their trousers so big they droop to their knees, the dookie pants look, which is very reflective of their babish attitudes I suppose. I can't wait for that style to go out, it's so dumb, they can barely walk with their pants like that.

Apparently, Ken and Barbie broke up 2 years ago after a 43 year stint. Ken will be getting new look and "fans might see big changes this spring." Whoopee!

Las Vegas

Last weekend we went to Las Vegas. I thought I might enjoy the high rolling life, alas, I did not. Vegas is just too much. Too much money, too many brides everywhere, too much glitz and glam- trying to replicate places that already exist (i.e. Cesar's, New York, Eiffel tower). I like the way Kyle puts it - "Las Vegas is a giant turd rolled in rhinestones" - it has that stinky feeling.

We were there for a wedding - so I guess I should not complain to much - there was an agenda that could not be avoided. It's was way to expensive - we paid 60 dollars for breakfast one morning and didn't get a lot of food. A carafe of orange juice cost 20 dollars. This was the Four Seasons so I guess I should have expected to spend a lot there...whine whine whine.

It also doesn't help that we took the worst flight to get there. We flew Austin to Minneapolis, then Minneapolis to Las Vegas - awful! And Northworst..er Northwest Airlines suxs- it's no wonder why that company is bankrupt!!!!!!! Never again! On the return flight, I brillantly booked us for the 1 am red eye - so sleep sucked, my ass hurt, and Kyle sat in first class while I sucked it up in coach (I let him sit first class because he was going to work when our flight returned and I was not - President's day or Colombus sailed the ocean blue day or something- anyways aren't I just so sweet).

I did enjoy Sunday in Nevada hanging out with my aunt, uncle, cousin, her Navy Seals boyfriend, and Kyle. We went to see the Hoover Dam, which is quite amazing.
It is one of those great engineering projects. And don't our new Walmart sun glasses look so spiffy? In the end, we gambled a little, broke even, and kicked back as much as we could. The food at the wedding was delicious - sushi for the rehearsal dinner, beef tenderloin for the reception entree, two chocolate fountains - couldn't go wrong there.



Yummy







So easily distracted by food.

We also saw the fountain dance at the Bellagio to the tune.."I hope you don't mind, I hope you don't mind that I put down in words, how wonderful life is now your in the world" (Elton John maybe?) I wondered if that was a person's job to choreograph the fountain spigots. What an interesting job that might be.

I don't know if I'll ever want to go to Vegas again. Maybe when I have a lot of money that I don't care about to drop...but that's not likely. I'd much rather go back to Europe.

It's a Boy!

We found out yesterday after waiting almost 2 hours. Apparently I scheduled my sonogram for the crappiest part of the day.

Now to choose a name...damn did that keep me up last night.

The Valley, Mexico, and GIANT Mexican Sandals

We, Kyle and I, went to the Valley for Labor Day weekend. We ate a lot (Cheese on a stick, chic-fil-a, shrimp gumbo, yummy Mexican food, Duvalin - mexican candy) and shopped mostly. That's really all there is to in the valley, or at least all I really wanted to do. We also played Scrabble and Kyle and I tied twice, even though I was trying really hard to kick his butt.

Those giant Mexican sandals on Kyle was one of the highlights of the trip. I can't stop laughing about those shoes. The shoes were way bigger than his head as you can see.

Mexico is fun because you can shop and drink margaritas at the same time - if your coordinated enough. I didn't drink but I watched the others become drunk after one drink in the first store we stopped at - disgusting.

We also went to an art show in Nuevo Progresso Mexico which is impressive for the border. My sister's boyfriend is an artist - a very good one too - went to art school for his master's and everything. The art show was small, I'd say the audience was composed of my family and my sister's boyfriends family - gotta start some where.


Here are Kyle and my dad talking art, and my mom browsing the art in the back ground. All in all an enlightening experience.

The artist was Jason Cho a friend of the sister's boyfriend. Everyone was in agreement that he was a nice guy.



In this picture, ye shall witness drinking margaritas and talking Mexican merchandise -fascinating indeed.

Below, Cupcake, my sister's dog, cute and very spoiled. She beat that poor stuffed polar bear up.








That's all folks...

Go vote in November.

Get registered to vote.

Peace out!

Christian Bale for ye who don't know him. 

Go VOTE in NOVEMBER

I've been outta the loop for the while.

What I have been up to:

--Moving to an awesome new apartment - thanks to my whole family for help with the move
--Starting the new school year
--volunteering for the No Nonsense in November campaign
--watching the 1st season of Gilmore Girls
--on a Christian Bale movie kick
--stressing over Kyle not having a job
--rejoicing because Kyle just got a new job this Friday - Whoohoo!!!
--Growing a baby - 14 weeks ya'll


That's about it. Probably more stuff which I can't remember, when I get home, I crash into the bed and my ass stays there for a good while.

Kyle and I are now Deputy Registrar's for Travis county, so if anyone needs to get registered to vote, we can sign you up on the spot.

This is why we became deputy registrars and what we will be voting against in November (Proposition #2):

This proposed constitutional amendment shall be submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 8, 2005. The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the proposition:

"The constitutional amendment providing that marriage in this state consists only of the union of one man and one woman and prohibiting this state or a political subdivision of this state from creating or recognizing any legal status identical or similar to marriage."

This not only effects gay/lesbian relationships. Because the language is so vague it could potentially effect the rights of those couples in common law marriage. The legislator was able to common up with this amendment and has done nothing for education or other issues that matter. Well, I guess they did pass something to prevent cheerleaders from dancing so sexy and naughty - barf!

We went to the Hot Sauce Festival today to get pledges from voters who will vote against this amendment. Kyle rocked at talking to people about the issue, I was just too nervous, I picked up his sloppy seconds, snuck a clipboard in when I could. I also registered my first voters - quite exciting.

VOTE VOTE VOTE Against this amendment in November! I'll register you!

Chicago

This is a test to see if this picture thing works.

Click HERE!!!!!!

More to come. Let me know if you can see the pictures.

The White Shirt Club

A Cute Squirrel this morning

Yay - that's us below - the white shirt club - at the arboretum hanging out on the cow statues. We were trying to escape the heat. It sure is a hard thing to do.

I finished Book #7 - The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay - very good book. About comic books and lots of other stuff too, like romance, mild homosexuality, and war.

I also saw the movie Howl's Moving Castle today. Also entertaining. This is an animation movie.

That's all, getting tired, andI have not done my lesson plans for the week.

8 more work days till my summer official starts.

Happy Father's Day to you dads out there!

The Cows 

Homestar Runner Old School

Homestar Runner Old School

This website is hillarious. In that strange, funny, Napolean Dynamite way. I guess. I think these guys just make stuff that is funny to them and it ends up being funny to lots of people.

Anyways, Kyle and I went to the Alamo Drafthouse on Saturday night to see the live Homestar Runner creators, the brothers Chapman, with their funny never before seen stuff. The Homestar Runner puppet was there too.

I think if you click on the picture it will take you to the website. Check out Strong Bad emails, they are funny.

with a lot of crap!

me

Brunch at Fonda San Miguel's

...is AMAZING!!! OMIGOD!

That's where we went today for that anniversary meal. Cuz we didn't go out last night because we went over to Kyle's brothers because his partner's family was in town and they were making dinner. More amazing food. Kelly's mom makes these delicious homemade cinnamon rolls. M-WAh!

Fonda San Miguel's is Mexican interior food, not Tex-Mex, which I believe Austin has a whole lot of this (Tex-Mex), and not very good. I like border Mexican food much better.

I'll start with the appetizers section of the buffet: guacamole, cerviche (M-Wah!), mushrooms, some other fish stuff, fresh fruit. The veggie section, for vegetarians and veggies sides: chilliquilles (sp?)- corn chips with verde sauce, cheese, and sour cream; some damn good migas (Kyle stated, "I didn't know that migas could taste that good."), refried black bean, some squash thing. Then there is an entree section which had 2 kinds of chicken (one mole kind), beef, and something pork. Then a desert section (the waitress said they have one of the best pastery chefs, I believe it): a variety of Mexican cookies, a mousse with alcohol, many types of cakes, and the best tres leches cake I ever had.

My favorite thing: a corn pudding/souflee - absolutely delicious!!!

If anyone is ever in town, has money, and wants to do a brunch at Fonda's, let me know, we can make reservations. I (and I'm positive Kyle) will accompany you, show you the ropes, visit that buffet table with you as much as you like, shamelessly and boldly. It is so worth it!

A Negative 1 Year Anniversary

That's right y'all. It's our negative 1 anniversary, because in one year today we are getting married...ACK, only one year left to plan, ACK!

I have tried on dresses last weekend, which was very exciting. Bridemart SUXS! They were rude and didn't even help us ( I was with Ash). Serendipity Bridal was absolutely delightful. They have plush furniture, snacks and drink when you walk in, and they helped us. But I was quite worn out after trying on dresses at just one place. The lady that helped us recommended I order in December. Who knows what my body will be like then?

Kyle is taking me out for our negative 1 anniversary. It was all his brilliant idea. And now I must think of something to top his brillance...muwahahahaaaa!

A Small Break

School's out for the summer...whoohoo! No more psycho 7th period, with kids yelling at each other, calling each other names, or yelling at me. That was really the class that drove me crazy. And 4th period was pretty bad.

I have one week off until I start summer school. So only 4 more days. Although I have been up at school already twice to finish packing up stuff. I guess it is sort of a break.

I finished Book # 6 - Dreams of My Father - Barack Obama. It was an interesting read. I like reading about how politicians get there beginnings. Even though the focus of the book was more on race and not politics. I really like Obama. He seems level headed.

I'm working on Book # 7 - The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay - which so far is about comic books and other things.

This past weekend I saw Star Wars, which was eh... not anything spectacular. The dialogue between Anakin Skywalker and Padmi was LAME-O! I was embarassed for them.

On Saturday, Ash and I somehow ended up in the Whole Foods area like 3 or 4 times. For no reason, we just couldn't figure out what to do with ourselves. And Kyle the decision maker was doing other things, so we were lost.

Yep, that's it. Till more work starts, then more work ends, and then we go to Chicago...whoohoo~