Babies Having Babies

Has anyone had a chance to catch this gem on Lifetime? I've been blessed to watch a couple of minutes while flipping through the channels this week. Wow, it's all you would expect from a Lifetime movie: totally unrealistic dialogue, awful melodramatic acting, sensationalized 'factual' events, b-list actors... you get the drift. But damn, Camryn Manheim looks good (well, good for her.)

(If you don't remember the story from last year, you can read about it here.) Regardless if there was this so-called pact or not, the fact remains that teen pregnancy spiked at Gloucester High School and some teenage girls were intentionally trying to get pregnant. At the time, the national media picked up on this like the vultures they are.

So this begs the question, why is the public obsessed with teenage pregnancy? I am guilty as charged. Initially, I think shows like 16 and Pregnant did a good job of showing the real challenges of teen motherhood. But then MTV took it a step further (as they always do) and rewarded some of those moms with a follow up show, Teen Mom (thus extending their 15 minutes of fame.) Now they're doing another season of 16 and Pregnant. We can't seem to get enough of the train wreck. It's definitely a curious phenomenon.

Jezebel covered this topic much better than I can: Read more here.

Optical Illusion

This is awesome. Be sure to read the text of the post.

Apple's Big Announcement today

In a couple of hours, Apple will make a big announcement about its forthcoming tablet device. Word is that it will change the face of publishing. Seeing as I work in publishing, I should probably know more about this.

While you can't watch the announcement live, you can read the Huffington Post's liveblog.

Mucus Party

I feel like all I've been doing for the past couple of days is blowing noses (mine and my child's.) She has the continuous runny nose that all 2 year old's have for the entire winter. Mine is an annoying low grade head cold that won't go away. I won't bore you with the details.

On an unrelated note, here is my PSA for the week. Check your carbon monoxide monitors. Also, make sure they are set up lower to the ground (not on the ceiling like your smoke detectors.) Evidently carbon monoxide is a heavy gas that takes a while to rise (unlike smoke.) My sister got this information from the firemen that came to check the dangerously high levels of carbon monoxide in her house last night after the alarm sounded. The levels were dangerously high (a result of a furnace that needs to be replaced) so they had to leave for the night. No wonder they nap so much over there!

Push It Real Good

I am really glad it's Friday. Despite it being a short week, this week kicked my ass. Maybe it was the shock of being thrust back into child rearing.
I took a muscle class at the gym this morning. I've taken it before. One of the primary reasons I got pregnant again was to not have to do the push ups. Can you imagine my horror when the instructor told me I could still do them, just in the modified knee position? Uh, I've never done them not on my knees. Maybe once my belly hits the floor while in that position, I'll be excused. I am the laziest exerciser ever. Jillian Michaels hates me.

No Rhyme or Reason To This Post

I don't have anything coherent to report today. Just a jumble of thoughts.

• I went on my annual college girls weekend this past weekend. Cory was appalled that we didn't turn on the radio on the 3 hour drive or the TV all weekend. Non-stop girl talk for 48 hours. Fantastic.
• I am kind of over the characters of Jersey Shore. Although they did provide some funny fodder at our last family dinner. My brother got excluded from chicken cutlet night and ravioli night for not cleaning up his dishes. And Cory proclaimed that he will put in $1000 towards renting Snooky as my brother's date to my cousin's upcoming wedding. There's nothing like making a huge scene on the biggest day of a family member's life. Hell, I'll throw $500 in and host a ticket keg party to raise the rest.
• I saw Precious earlier this week. I am still disturbed by the many disturbing scenes in that movie. Great acting though.
• Is it bad that I am so competitive that I get personally offended when the candidate I vote for doesn't win? I've been in a bad mood all day over this Senate seat election. Not to get too political and not that I even loved Martha Coakley but damn it, now the Republicans have a chance. And don't get me wrong, the proposed health care bill does have its flaws but the current system is one huge flaw so something needs to be done soon. I should move to a Socialist country. Rant over.

Teen Mama Drama

UPDATE: http://thesuperficial.com/2010/01/give_this_woman_a_f-cking_meda.php
(thanks Cara)

Yikes. Farrah's mama got physical.

Ways to Help in Haiti

UPDATE: I researched the various organizations and made a donation to Doctors without Borders.

CNN website that has ways you can help those in need in Haiti.

Good Freebie

I have tons of reusable bags in my car but I always forget to bring them in with me. This is a good freebie that might help: "Bring Your Own Bag” Window Car Cling.

(Thanks Hip2Save.)

Strange Bedfellows

Beatrice, you have a memory like an elephant. I recall being dumbfounded when I realized you were actually remembering things. It was amazing to watch the little wheels in your tiny little brain churning as you told story after story about something that happened in the past. Like how you still refer to one of your blankets as Auntie's, recalling the time 1 month ago when you laid under it while she read to you. And how you refer to your Dora episodes in such detail, naming all of the characters and plot lines. See below for the story of the B(w)itch and the Prince(ss). For some reason you can't get the w right and you keep calling the little boy prince a princess.

You memory came back to bite mama in the buns this week. Over this past weekend, you were having trouble settling down for your afternoon nap so after about an hour of fussing, I pulled you into bed with me and we napped for over an hour. Every night since then you've woken up at midnight calling out to me to come get you. I've gone into your crib to find you standing up, holding your dolls and blanket waiting for me to pick you up and take you to my bed. You are not happy when I leave your room without you in tow. It's been a rough couple of nights.

My precious little girl, as much as I would like to sleep with you like this every night, it can't be. We each need our own space.

New Show: Treme

See below for the first teaser trailer for the upcoming HBO series Treme, created by David Simon of The Wire and set in New Orleans.



More on the topic here.

Back On: Meal Planning

It's been a while since I've done any weekly meal planning. Let's give it a try.

Monday- Nanny's house

Tuesday- Pasta with meat sauce

Wednesday- Cory is at basketball on Wednesdays. I'll probably have leftovers or breakfast for dinner.
Thursday- Mediterranean shrimp, Israeli couscous, and lentils*
Friday- N/A. Off to Vermont with the college gals!
* Trader Joe's sells pre-cooked lentils in the refrigerator section. Very convenient and easy to toss in salads or whatever.

Why You Should Always Re-Read Email Messages Before Sending

Email I sent yesterday to a colleague at work:

Hi XXX,

A member of our team here in Boston is leaving the company and we have a going away lunch for him scheduled for 12:30. Is there any way we could cover my tittles first in this meeting? My tit

Julia

His response:

Julia,

Happy to oblige. In your memo it looks as if you wanted to say something else, but only two words came through in the third sentence.

Oh my God.  Clearly I had meant to write, my titles but something went screwy. I ended my email to this prim and proper (so I thought) 75 year old guy with my tit.  Sweet. Best part was that spell-check didn't pick it up. Even better part is that he called me out on it. I had conveyed what he needed to know in the first 2 sentences. Obviously the my tit was a typo but he needed to draw attention to it. And oh ya, he replied all so that my higher up colleague was on the email too.  I am such a jackass.

I Do Things Like This In My Dream Life

Once I have that goddamn workshop in my house, I'll be making shit like this all the time.  Or maybe I'll just make things in my mind because the execution is never as good as the idea. And maybe when I have my workshop, it will come equipped with a resident carpenter/painter/crafter.

The Monthly Give- January 2010

Trying to start off the year with a renewed sense of charity. I am collecting dresses for Donatemydress.org. I have been meaning to go through my closet and pull out all of the formal dresses I won't have occasion to wear again (or will never be able to squeeze my ass into again) so this will be my chance. If you have dresses to donate leave me a comment or email me and I'll arrange to pick up from you. I plan to deliver the dresses in early February.

Baby, It's Cold Outside

It's cold out. And it gets dark so early. I wish I was here.

Best News Ever

Scholastic is releasing a Baby-Sitters Club prequel and updated versions of the old books. This is the best news I've heard all year!

Is it weird that I am planning on buying these for Beatrice. I cannot wait to read them to her once she's old enough for chapter books.

Artie Lange Hospitalized

UPDATE 1/7/10: Artie Lange's Suicide Attempt

Artie Lange Hospitalized For “Undisclosed Ailment”. That's no shock. That poor guy is a ticking time bomb. If you haven't read his autobiography, Too Fat To Fish, you are missing out.

Requisite New Year's Post

Happy New Year to all! So far we're off to a good start. This constant snowfall has kept us inside and cozy. Lots of closet organizing and nesting. I am one of those weird people that likes to move around furniture or swap out tables, chairs, and decor regularly (luckily my husband is the same way.) Today I am plotting how to convert the office desk into a kitchen table. Too bad my ideas don't generally mesh with reality... my measuring and depth perception skills could use some work.

Did you make any resolutions for 2010? I started this blog shortly after the new year last year and start a blog was on my 2009 list, along with the goals on my list the the left. I've accomplished most of those things, with widely varying degrees of success.

I am having a tough time thinking of resolutions for 2010 because I feel like much of my year will be devoted to or consumed by being pregnant, nursing, taking care of a newborn, wrangling a toddler, and trying to keep my husband from divorcing me. Ideally 2010 would be my year to get back into shape but realistically I know that my body will not be my own till at least 2011.

But that's no excuse, I do need to get back to the gym for the remainder of this pregnancy. Post pregnancy is another issue. With baby #1, I worked out most of my pregnancy, then didn't go back to the gym until 7 months post-partum. I am not going to set a date in my mind when I need to go back because I'll have enough going on. But I have no excuse for right now. So I like the rest of America, will be back at the gym tomorrow. So cliche, I know.

While I don't have clear cut resolutions for 2010, I guess I do have some 'goals.'

1. Carry and birth a healthy baby: This will involve aforementioned working out, drinking more water, and laying off the deli sandwiches. I know, I am a bad mama so far.
2. Find a name for this coming baby: We may have to employ Cory's parents method of baby naming. Cory's father was really superstitious when it came to the unborn child (not uncommon for the Jewish folk) so he wouldn't discuss baby matters, let alone names, until the baby was here. Cory's mom had a couple of names she liked but evidently they didn't jive with the father. So the final decision came down to copy-cat naming. The couple that gave birth next to Cory's parents named her baby Cory. And then there were 2 Cory's. So we might be that couple poking around the nursery at the hospital, looking for ideas.
3. Transition Beatrice to her new room and new role as big sister: This one will be a tough one. I do get sad thinking of her little world being turned upside down. But I am definitely being more mindful of the times we are spending just the 3 of us and the alone time I have with her. She is at the best age right now. Her little imagination is running wild and I laugh probably about 10 times a day at something she does. We are truly blessed.
4. Make a list of all the things I want to eat guilt free during this pregnancy and eat them all with reckless abandon. ( Spoken like a true fatty.)
5. Go away with Cory and Beatrice before the next baby comes.
6. Go away with just Cory before the next baby comes.

That's a good enough list for now. I do need to update my goals on the left soon too.

On an unrelated note, yesterday we took Beatrice out into the snowy backyard and Cory asked if she wanted to explore and she replied, all wide-eyed, "Yes, Dora." I think she honestly believed she had been transformed into a real life Dora the Explorer.