The first married-life, pre-baby, post-weekend brain dump in the history of NatA!

It's embarrassing how the most inconsequential things make me feel like I'm winning at adulthood. Especially when said 'win' was something I've avoided doing for several years, where it's had a permanent place on my To Do list. I'm talking of course, about cleaning out the bathroom cupboards and drawers. Both of them. What a sweet sense of relief to have that terrible job completed.

In addition, we also sorted through the latest tidal wave of stuff deposited in the baby's room/spare room and the gym. Fantastic to be able to see and navigate the floors again; a bit disheartening to know that the contents of both closets have to be completely flipped. And once we're ready to assemble the nursery... yikes. We've got some furniture figuring out to do.

[Sidenote: I'm determined to complete so many house things while I'm feeling good and before the baby comes. Every thing I've read/heard indicates you won't get a thing done during maternity leave, and knowing how lazy I am clearly that sounds like the dream.]

This legitimately might be the most boring blog post of all time. I'm sorry. How about a photo of some of the wonderful wares purchased in Meridian, Idaho of all places? We stopped for the night both to and from Utah for the holidays and found ourselves with several hours to burn (trying to avoid the ghetto-ness of our $60/night rooms). Both trips held the exact same evening itinerary. Texas Roadhouse, Hobby Lobby for nursery prints, Marshalls/TJ Maxx for baby clothes. We hit the jackpot on the way home. These three outfits are Baby Girl's first stylized outfits.

Also this weekend? There were a few Blazers tickets floating around the office late Friday and knowing A) the visiting team (Golden State) is good and B) our time of being free and easy is coming to an end, I scooped them up. Paul came to my end of town where we had a quick happy hour nacho/bean dip deliciousness of a dinner (made even more fantastic by the fact we've been eating crazy healthy since the new year) and then braved the traffic and cold to get to the Moda Center for the Blazers Game.

We had a really great time enjoying the atmosphere, sitting for 99.9% of the game (bless the fact that our seats have no one in front of them and a bar on which to rest your feet), and just talking/laughing together. Oh, and planning out how we'd spend the Powerball lottery winnings should we win them.  It's very important to have this stuff figured out before your life changes forever you see.

And now that we have 9:00 church the wide expanse of Sunday afternoon is this delicious thing that typically includes stretchy pants, naps, TV, food, calling-related tasks, and anything else our little hearts desire. Though I loathe waking up 'early', I won't lie about how nice that afternoon is. This Sunday was made extra special by a [TMI ALERT!] 24-hour urine collection I had to complete for a test because though I'm having the easiest pregnancy of all time there's a random hiccup every now and then that requires some attention. (In this case, protein in my last urine test which may require a kidney specialist OR might mean I simply didn't drink enough water before my last test; which duh, my vote is on the latter.)

Shall we call this a weekend brain dump? Okay!

I don't have kids

But if I did, I'd be making this for lunch tomorrow:

Can someone please do this and report back?

Day 28

It's May 2nd April 28th. Writing a year recap post feels premature. Especially because my blogging regularity has reached 2007 levels, so what more could you possibly want from me? There's a reason I don't send out Christmas cards.

This year in great detail

There was a block of time earlier this year where I thought I'd have a head cold for the rest of my life. In good news, sometimes my hyperbolic predictions don't come true.

Yesterday's sponsored post pretty much sums up the majority of the year. Toss in Zumba, some weddings, a brief quasi-romance, and my introduction of chinese chicken salad into "the meals Nat makes on occasion when she eats at home" and there it is. 2010. It's been grand.

But really? Not much to report, not much to complain about. And that's an equation I'm more than happy to live with. Isn't that how years typically run? Slow ramp-up period before they take off in May? That's my plan.

Day 27

Your month in great detail

Or, take sponsor bids from letters looking to up their visibility. Sorry Q and X, maybe next month.
Reading, running, rice krispy treats, rain.

I probably could continue on the R train, but I'ma let you do it for me. Any "R" activities in your life this month?

Happy April folks.

Day 22

Some of you may know that my office has kitchens crammed with every kind of individually pre-packaged snack food you can imagine. Two years after being here, however, the days of combining lunch from pre-fab food is drawing to a close. A girl can only eat so many cheese crackers or pringles, rice krispy treats or smartfood popcorn, almonds or baked cheetos before you just start to crave real food.

A website

Today's post comes courtesy to you of the Wisconsin Milk Marketing board. An ode to the many shapes and forms of the grilled cheese sandwich: http://www.grilledcheeseacademy.com/

The photography on this site is beautiful. Or maybe I'm just hungry.

Got a favorite? And now.... who will host a grilled cheese party and invite me?

Day 15

To be honest, I had no idea what today's topic was. Enter my bff Google.

A fanfic

/ˈfænˌfɪk/ Show Spelled[fan-fik]

–noun Informal . 1. fiction written by fans of a TV series, movie, using existing characters and situations to develop new plots

Oh what a world opened up to me. Clearly, I don't have a favorite to post about, but boy have I found a site for you. Basically, the site gathers all the writings people submit of continued stories, or imagined scenes between characters not explained in movies, on tv, or even Broadway plays. (I'll admit I got sucked into an "In the Heights" post or two.)

Some are good, some are bad -- but I'm loving the cross-over fanfics. Veronica Mars in love with Alex Karev/Mossimo (of Grey's Anatomy)? Vampire Diaries' Damon joins Glee? Saved by the Bell and the kids from Rent attend the same high school? Brilliantly odd.

http://www.fanfiction.net/

Anyway. It's pretty hilarious. Who knew this world existed? Go to the Fan Fiction site if you're interested. Is there a particular follow-up story to a favorite movie or sitcom you loved? What's the most ridiculous cross-over you saw? I'm not going to lie, I think this is kind of a gold mine.

the gender of humor

Three years ago when I was still fairly new to Boston, I gave a talk in church. I considered it equal to the other talks and lessons I've given in recent years, but references to this talk surface every six months or so. For one reason or another, it seems to be one people remember.

The last time the talk came up, a few of us were out to eat. In this instance, it was a boy who brought it up and was explaining my delivery method to another new-to-the-area boy. I won't attempt to recreate the conversation because I'm terrible at remembering quotes--I remember meaningless details. (Raise your hand if you're surprised.) Sprinkled in the conversation, however, was the phrase "good at lady humor".

I'm sure I arched an eyebrow and asked for an explanation. Half stumbling through the rest of his discourse, the storyteller continued his observation that my talk had the women in the room enchanted. Surely noticing my silence and the wheels turning in my head (because I'd never heard this angle and until then had no idea anyone labeled my humor) he attempted to dig himself out of the conversation (though no digging was needed, but silence makes most of us begin to spew words). He considered "being good at lady humor" a true gift since women (at times) aren't the best at recognizing the good in other women (sometimes true).

That was about it for the conversation, but I've thought back on that conversation many times since. Is there a difference in men's and women's humor? Can you be good at one and terrible at another? Does my 90% women readership (see sidebar poll) give weight to this theory?

Obviously, we all find humor in different things. What's funny to me won't necessarily be funny to you. On the flip side of humor intake is the sense of humor you push out into the world.

A friend boy and I had a lively discussion a few weeks ago about movies and entertainment. You see, I'm not a huge fan of the Judd Apatow-brand of guy-buddy humor movies. I don't find (or provide) humor in any of the vulgar or crass things in life. It's not my style--and if it makes me square to say it, fine--it makes me quite uncomfortable. (Sorry folks.) I've thought a lot about that conversation too and wondered how much of him growing up with only brothers and me growing up with only sisters has slanted our humor views.

I recognize that I make witty connections every now and then. I attempt to be clever (without killing kindness) and poke fun at things (usually myself). My dad has always said that "sarcasm is the lowest form of humor"--and for a long time I thought that was the dumbest thing. As I've gotten older however, I see the true wisdom in the sentiment and try to think outside that box.

And as a side note, I try not to think of myself as a person with a slaying gift for humor. People who think they're funny, and say so (hello personal ads!) are typically indulgent and not all that funny. It's like some of Ellen's material on American Idol. She pushes too hard to add jokes and they end up being awful. For me, humor is a "show me, don't tell me" type of thing. It's not something that can be provable--especially because what you think is funny and what I find to be funny may not be compatible. As soon as you start thinking you're too hilarious, the sooner the number of people who think that start to dwindle. End side note.

There's no real grand climax to this post; nothing that wraps this up with a nice bow and makes sense of it all. (I'm just talking to talk.) Except, I guess to say that I'm more than happy to be "good at lady humor" and am pleased as punch to entertain those of you who frequent this oddly named blog. It's true that making yourself laugh is the first tier of importance, but it's lovely to have other people who find you entertaining as well. So, as always, thanks for your kind comments and compliments and if nothing else, humoring me.

rob the cradle much?

At least there's a fall-back option when meeting guys at church starts quits panning out.



This is why forgetting your iPod is a tragedy.

Trips are hard work

The short news is, I'm home. The long news is that I've spent more time sleeping and clearing off the recorded goodies on my DVR rather than deal with the unpacking, the laundry, and the general back to real life-ness required after a week out of the country. Had I not left my apartment keys in Argentina I may have had a bit more spare time today to deal with real life... but who'm I kidding? I'd probably still be sleeping and watching TV rather than laundry.

My photos have been uploaded however and they're ready to roll. I'm ready to start telling you about the trip and all it's wonderful splendorness--there's so much to tell and so many legs of the journey to cover I'm not quite sure how I'll organize, but I will tell you that there'll be a NatAttack first tomorrow--A GIVEAWAY. So stay tuned on Monday for your chance to win something ridiculous from abroad.

Another special thanks to all the guest bloggers--didn't they do a great job? I had a blast checking in to see what was going on in these parts while I was away. Thank you, thank you, thank you to Jamar, Stephanie, Juan, Whitney, Kendall, Mallory, and Mary. Make sure to add them to your reader lists, they all write a good blog.

Also, is November over yet? This blogging every day thing is taxing.

First a copilot, now an architect

Not only is our burned out church building being rebuilt, but we're getting a new Stake Center. Cambridge, Mass. thanks everyone for being tithing payers. This image cracks me right up: (click the photo for a bigger image if you can't see):
Not sure who updated the sign, but I feel like this is an image you'll start seeing in email forwards pretty soon. The new Stake Center is the first of its kind in our area -- our closest Stake Center is 12 miles (~30 minutes) West of here -- so we're thrilled!

Group Think

My after-work hours have been filled with shopping for home goods and supervising my interior decorators. Last night, we (and by "we", I mean those who know how to accurately wield tools. I watched.) hung frames and arranged flowers until midnight. (Pictures forthcoming!) Thanks for allowing me to post about non-personal things.

Today's awesomely random must see site is SideTaker.com. Arguing couples let the residents of the World Wide Web choose whose side of the relationship argument to take. Some of these crack me right up. If you have a few minutes to burn and have already completed your home or visiting teaching (don't want you to feel guilty come end of the month!), check out this site.

Question: what might the global, social, and economic ramifications of this site mean? Will couples therapists be out of work? Let me hear your scenarios.

Now back to your regularly scheduled decorating program.

ninja cat +1

So Julie and I have this long-running cats vs. dogs (vs. sometimes other random animals) debate. When one of us finds a cool article or story about the species we're supporting, an email is sent to the other with the link and a +1 count. (Me tricking Ju into dressing up like a cat for Halloween was +20 on the count.)

I am not a fan of YouTube clips on blogs. To be honest, I rarely watch embedded video (or any kind of video any where online. It's a quirk). However, this next 1:13 of the NINJA CAT is some pretty humorous viewing. I'm just sayin'. No audio required.



Cats +1