slingsomeink

a change in location

noreply@blogger.com (slingsomeink) — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 20:24:00 +0000

http://thelittlechum.blogspot.com

Still Sleepwalking

noreply@blogger.com (slingsomeink) — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 23:42:00 +0000

Although throw some late-August sweat into the picture. Ah, yes. Theeeeeere we go. I, who once couldn't sleep unless I had at least two covers, flees from even a mere sheet and requires a constant fan in the bedroom.

My parents surprised me last week. Sneakily flew to Kauai and proceeded to spend the next week doing my laundry, cooking my meals, moving my furniture, buying me rocking chairs, bringing me boob pumps and otherwise generally being useful. I cheered them on from the couch, briefly felt bad, then resumed watching the Olympics. Who ever knew fencing could be so mesmerizing?

But thanks to their efforts, plus some elbow grease from Nick, we now have an actual space in our bedroom where the baby could feasibly dwell and be changed. Right now I'm just enjoying the Feng Shui of the open corners and unobstructed views into the jungly backyard.

We recently acquired a tv. Ostensibly it is to be used only to watch dvd's but I sneakily conspired to get the free cable hooked in. I wanted Olympics and Democratic Convention. Nick is threatening to cut off the gravy train at some point but the real reason is that he can't say when. I can flick it off. He ends up watching some early 80's concoction on the Sci-Fi Channel. But should that impact me and my responsible Michael Phelps addiction? I say no.

Sleeping My Way Through It All

noreply@blogger.com (slingsomeink) — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 01:36:00 +0000

I am officially a half zombie. It's like I haven't fully caught the zombie virus but am partially incapacitated. Will I become a full fledged, flesh munching, street pacing ghoul? Only time will tell. Check back in September.

My current disturbing symptoms: Staring eyes, a brain that doesn't seem to comprehend the finer points of anything much, and a tendency to drool at inadvertent moments like in line at the grocery store.

It's like my body senses the third trimester is a week away and is fully "wake me when there's a baby here somewhere."

What Can I Eat?

noreply@blogger.com (slingsomeink) — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 23:53:00 +0000

Good thing my mom isn't technologically savvy enough for the blog world! Otherwise this latest title would have her speed dialing me with warnings about the doom that will be my ass by the time Lil' Chum springs into the world.

I am literally hungry all. the. time. This symptom has ramped up this week resulting in me waking up two nights ago at 3.30am and last night at 4am acting like that "feed me seymore feed me" plant from Little Shop of Horrors. I've been able to swig some OJ and tough it out but end up laying in bed for another hour listening to the dulcet sounds of the machismo roosters and fantasizing about chocolate milkshakes. I have been fantasizing about chocolate milkshakes frequently these days (sorry Nick) but have actually only indulged in one. (bow)

This is my payback for every time I ever judged a pregnant woman with greasy hands and a french fry hanging out the side of her mouth, guts straining some too cute shirt. This is me doing my Bill Clinton impersonation of feeling your pain.

So what would I like to throw into a dog bowl and eat all together if I was to throw caution to the wind? Hmmmm: (and I'll sacrifice shame for bold honesty) pad thai, veggie chicken nuggets, cucumbers, lobster, french fries and maybe a coconut macroon....wait make that two. All washed down with a Thai Iced Tea.

I'm Back

noreply@blogger.com (slingsomeink) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 20:39:00 +0000

So I've pretty much slept, ate, and laid around catatonic for the past 1.5 months I've been absent from the internet. After getting through a day of work jumping back on the computer to think of something reasonably witty or interesting seemed like an epic task. I read somewhere that being pregnant is like climbing a mountain everyday. To this my dear husband and dear sister (who has moved into our small outbuilding "shanty" next to our tiny home) snorted. I think milk even came out their respective noses. But dammit that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

All the I read about the 2nd trimester (which I'm rapidly approaching the end of) says that I should be feeling vividly energetic, like before I ever got pregnant. To that I say "bah" and then take another snooze. That being said, I love having this small growing life in me more than anything else that has ever, ever, ever happened to me.

I also have learned that I make a steadfast "rule" about pregnancy and then break it almost as fast. Like how I was NOT. GOING. TO. LEARN. THE. SEX. We were going to do it old school and thumb our noses at this new-fangled technology that my great-great grandmothers didn't need. Nick was perplexed at my decision. It seemed to not take into account that fact that he really, really wanted to know the sex and thought it was a positive way to bond with the little creature who shares half his genetic heritage.

This took me aback. I have to share pregnancy decisions? This isn't all about me? Suddenly it was like I was back planning our wedding and just heard Nick hated the funky chicken song. Everyone hates the funky chicken song but I wanted it because it would be ironic. We didn't have the funky chicken song. And we found out the sex because I love my husband and anything that will help him get closer to the wiggly friend I get to know feel on a daily basis is probably the best choice.

So it's a boy! This is him. About 4 weeks ago. The shock was how similar my new favorite guys looked:

Coconut Bliss....I think I love you, but what am so afraid of? I'm afraid I am unsure of a love there is no cure for...

noreply@blogger.com (slingsomeink) — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 03:52:00 +0000

www.coconutbliss.com brings out the secret Partridge Family lover in all of us...

I recommend Dark Chocolate and Strawberry Lemon love.

We have a visitor coming to stay, I here someone struggling on the driveway below so should go rescue them

16 weeks

noreply@blogger.com (slingsomeink) — Sat, 17 May 2008 00:10:00 +0000

My belly is losing the pert cuteness it had maintained for weeks 14 and 15. Why is it indented? This isn't rhetorical, I really want to know why the hell it's indented.

My boobs are getting huge. I'd put them up for you to marvel at but that might overly gratify some of the folks who've arrived at this site by googling "Huge+Young+Nipple."

I mean (A) Really, that's what you're after? and (B) Really? That directed you to my lil' ol blog?

Heck, maybe I'll throw them up after all, just to give you some sense of satisfaction as opposed to the puzzled look you must have wondering (A) Where's the Huge, Young, Nipple? and (B) Why the hell is this chick's stomach indented?

Pledge Poisoning, My 6th Grade OCD, Bad Dream

noreply@blogger.com (slingsomeink) — Tue, 13 May 2008 00:36:00 +0000

So I was checking our "clothes horse" (aka the indoor drying rack) to see if any clean tops were dry enough to get away wearing to work when I noticed a dead body. An anole bit it right next to the window where Nick manically sprayed half a bottle of Pledge through the screen trying to kill off an army of bees attempting to colonize the western house wall. While my hate of anoles is substantial...I don't trust their furtive jumping, dominance displays or generally angry look they get in the eyes, I felt a little bad if this one suffered from Pledge poisoning.

I've come home early to work on my math final and as you can see it's going well. What else is going on?

1. I tried drinking some barely diluted cranberry juice and think I have burn away part of my throat.
2. Cheesy potatoes are my new all time favorite breakfast, lunch or dinner.
3. My sister Megan is moving in sometime early June, date TBA
4. The temperature has been perfectly perfect, low 80's, mostly sunny with a great trade wind. Ahhhhh....
5. Remembered this weekend that in sixth grade I built a shrine to God and couldn't pass by it without tapping my nose to the ground three times, made it awkward when I had friends visit.

Weird Dream of The Week: I was driving down a busy highway in what looked like a mix between Minneapolis and Sin City. Suddenly I noticed there was a dead boy lying in the lane, clearly run over, in a green and white striped t-shirt. I passed him and checked in my rearview mirror. Yup, definetly dead. No blood, but the angle of his neck and legs were wrong, all wrong. Other cars were now passing him so I kept driving. After a few minutes I realized, "Whoa, I just left a dead kid lying in the middle of the road and justified it because so did everyone else."

Tonight I think I'm going to root on dreams of butterflies and gumdrops.

14 weeks

noreply@blogger.com (slingsomeink) — Fri, 02 May 2008 20:38:00 +0000

She's a Maniac, Maniac....

noreply@blogger.com (slingsomeink) — Fri, 02 May 2008 01:47:00 +0000

So today I had my first clear taste of what it's like to be a hungry, really hungry, pregnant lady. Think of a rabid pit bull mated with steve irwin and cloned to a single hormone of a 7th grade boy. Yes it was frantic, angry and over the top.

I was sitting at my desk politely conversing on the phone when I suddenly thought, "whoa I'm kinda peckish." A second thought slammed into the first that said, "Get in the car woman and get me something, anything to cram in my mouth immediately or this body is hijacking you to McDonalds."

There is a subway down the road. I drove dangerously fast. There was traffic. I screamed (inwardly than outwordly) at the other cars. I considered parking in handicap. I decided my craziness didn't outweigh some sweet lady with a walker (yet) and ran to the counter. "Meatballs, pickles, onions." I couldn't believe myself, this must be a cliche pregnant Lea.

But no, it was me.

Singing a Mango Song

noreply@blogger.com (slingsomeink) — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 01:00:00 +0000

Had my first mango of the season today, divine. Just peeled the skin back and let the juices run down my fingers. And yes, I rubbed them off on my skirt at the end and went on back to work.

Next will be mango lassi, mango crumble, mango chutney, mango and ice cream, mango and yogurt, mango and chicken, mango and hot sauce

mmmmmmm

Vog

noreply@blogger.com (slingsomeink) — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 20:41:00 +0000

Glad I don't live on Big Island right now, but we're even seeing some vog way over here on little ol' Kauai.

Yes, No, No....Yes Definetely

noreply@blogger.com (slingsomeink) — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 18:52:00 +0000

February 19th 2008...so there I was with a plus sign preggo stick in hand. My first thought was, "At last." My second thought was, "Oh...my...god." I've been here once before. Last year in May. That pregnancy ended sadly, but not uncommonly in an early miscarriage that was quite protracted and ultimately clinical and invasive. Here I was again deathly afraid that history might repeat itself.

I did some breathing exercises and let the sad thoughts slowly drift off before speeding (sorry baby!) out to Waimea to pull Nick out of his office with an early birthday card announcing, "You're going to be a Dad. Congrats!" I had picked out the card months before, with lovely thick paper and a small nest nestling a tiny bluebird egg, saving it for this exact purpose. It took him a second to actually get what I was on about but his happiness was clear and immediate.

The next day I was scheduled to see an dentist for which I always have to take an antibiotic due to a slight mitro valve prolapse. Would an antibiotic hurt a barely four week old zygote? embryo? I decided to ask my doctor when I went to pick up the prescription and was promptly given a pregnancy test by the nurse. And then another one. Both were negative.

Could it be that I'm actually not officially "late" until tomorrow? What about the two Sigg bottles I drank in the last two hours? I knew I was pregnant. The doctor shook his head, "Let's put it this way, if you actually are pregnant I'll have to reevaluate the brand of pregnancy tests we buy for the office." I felt like pounding my head against the wall but instead I did something worse, started crying. I hate feeling weakness in a clinical white room. Doctors and pregnancy, my ambivalence from last year started to creep back. I went to the lab for a blood test and was promised the results the next day.

The evening, another positive pregnancy test. The next morning, another positive pregnancy test. Nick then forbid me from peeing on any more sticks. "Enough already, we'll find out either way really soon."

Morning goes by...no phone call. Lunch passes...no phone call. 2pm my cell phone rings. "You're not pregnant."

But...the 3 positive tests I've taken? "There is something wrong with your urine" before hanging up.

Oh god...I've hysterically induced a pregnancy. I call Nick. Is it possible I've hysterically induced a pregnancy?

Phone rings again. Same doctor. "Lab mixed you up with someone else. Congratulations."

And so we were off...

Meet the Lil' Chum

noreply@blogger.com (slingsomeink) — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 21:54:00 +0000

We're 13 weeks pregnant! Baby coming Oct 27th to a small island near (or not so near) you!

Kauai Garden Fair

noreply@blogger.com (slingsomeink) — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 22:48:00 +0000

Kauai County Farm Bureau and UH College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources present

Saturday, April 19th
13th Annual Kauai Garden Fair
Kauai Community College Campus Lawn

On Saturday, April 19th the Kauai Community College front lawn will spring to life with gardeners, suppliers, garden lovers and consumers here to shop the wide variety of plants, landscape products and equipment and to find out the latest gardening information and tips. Whether you garden yourself, seek local garden products, or simply enjoy experiencing the fruits of the garden and tropical landscaping, the Garden Fair is a great way to spend the day!

· One day FREE EVENT for the garden

· MEET OVER 30 garden related vendors, companies, agencies and organizations

· ONE STOP SHOP for varieties of tropical plants, orchids, produce, seeds

· LECTURE SERIES on garden related topics (schedule below)

· UH CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION Exhibits – Master Gardeners,

· 4-H LIVESTOCK AUCTION – fun for the whole family

· VEGAN FOOD by Blossoming Lotus, PRIZES AND MORE!

UH College of Tropical Agriculture and HR – Lecture Tent Schedule

9:30am - 10:15am Growing anthuriums

10:15am – 11:00am Growing orchids

11:00am - noon Plant your own, take it home, nutritious eating

noon - 1:30pm Growing tropical fruit trees Milan Rupert

1:30pm - 2:15pm Color Caping: Colors which make you look best

2:15pm - 3:00pm Growing native plants

I love you but I'm going to mace you in the face

noreply@blogger.com (slingsomeink) — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 20:15:00 +0000

Finally watched The Darjeeling Limited. I'd put it off because I'd heard bad reviews but once again it was a reminder to make my own choice. I loved it. Totally and completely.

I think my order of favorite Wes Anderson films are now

1. The Royal Tenenbaums
2. The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou
3. The Darjeeling Express
4. Rushmore
5. Bottle Rocket

Curious about The Fantastic Mr. Fox, coming out next year

The last three months have been full of more vivid, wild and tripped out dreams than at any other point in my life. I'll submit the odd gem out for analysis.

Weird Dream 1: I was being methodically pursued among the rows of a gilded 1930's theater by translucent, gangly aliens. The only way I could make them cease was to obviously kill them off...which I did by cracking their upper jaws back like pez dispensers.

Biting the Apple: Temptation to Run off into the Distance

noreply@blogger.com (slingsomeink) — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 00:37:00 +0000

I'm not feeling 100% today. A little more like 43%. Took some good friends to the airport who are moving to....

That's just it, they have no idea. They got the yen to leave the rock and are heading to the mainland to pick up an airstream rv they purchased online and proceed to drive around the country for the next 6 weeks deciding where to hang their hats. Did I mention they have a one year old? I am impressed and while I am so happy I get to go home tonight and curl up in my quilt, make a cup of tea and reread whatever book I can lay my hands on, part of me is yearning for a little more horizon scanning.

Like when I was in Tasmania I had this momentarily overpowering urge that said, "What if you just stayed. Or buy a ticket to Santiago and head back down to Patagonia. Do it. Bite the apple."

Instead I flew home and spent this morning throwing up my delicious homemade organic smoothie in a public restroom at the Maatson shipping dock while my friends offloaded there car for it's cross Pacific return.

But then I remember a friend from college who after talking a long time about the Lutheran hymns of his Minnesota childhood, sat back on his Montana porch and sighed, "I like home."

Back on the rock

noreply@blogger.com (slingsomeink) — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 21:48:00 +0000

What's the best thing about wrapping up what's been an outstanding overseas holiday? Getting to stand in HAWAIIAN AIRLINES line at the Sydney airport where staff somehow swallow their pride and say things like "Aloha" and "Mahalo" in lilting Australian accents while smirking at poor souls in next line waiting to board an American Airlines flight to LAX. Suckers...

Now I'd like to spend the next 45 minutes rhapsodizing on the deep rich mustard colors of the Tasmanian button grass plains, or the baby wombat I saw trying unsuccessfully to burrow into his/her mummy's pouch. However, travel has taught me one thing. Most people really don't want to know that much. So in summary, did I eat vegemite? No, it's nasty. But I did fall in love all over again with the country of my 5 year permanent residence visa. I'll wack some pics up over the next few days as that tends to go down smoother.

Nick is currently in Molokai touring deep dark valleys while I'm eating Subway at my desk thinking, ok time to get back to work. The temperature today is a balmy 72 and I had a bird of paradise bouquet on my desk welcoming me home (thanks lovely anonymous co-worker!)

Blown Away By Tasmania

noreply@blogger.com (slingsomeink) — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 01:15:00 +0000

Literally

I'm not really doing the whole blogging thing on vacation. It's way more fun to look at koalas and duck breaking tree branches than type. But only 6 more days and I'll be back tap tap tappy tappin

Over and out

Help Wanted

noreply@blogger.com (slingsomeink) — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 21:17:00 +0000

Will you clean my house for me? At least my sheets?

Argh, leaving for Australia on Thursday morning (so I'll be blogging upside down soon) and have the energy of a caterpillar. I have a mountain of laundry in the closet, some sneaky mold appearing on the edge of bookshelves (my absolute least favorite part of living on Kauai) and a fridge that I need to either clean or discover the cure for cancer in already!

I will pay you in guava. And you can have all the chickens you can catch.

Lock up your children

noreply@blogger.com (slingsomeink) — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 22:50:00 +0000

I just got my confirmation letter from the University of Hawaii-Manoa welcoming me to the Elementary Education program. This means that in a few short years I will be actively manipulating, er molding, the minds of impressionable, er sweet, children.

My class rules will consist of:
1) No Lunchables, ever
2) Be nice to Mr. Winkles the friendly class piranha
3) Forget the apple, I'll accept homegrown lychee and mangoes.
4) Charlotte from Charlotte's Web was a martyr and thus should have some sort of shrine
5) I'm Ms. not Mrs. Teacher mahalo very much

Beware the Beach Babes

noreply@blogger.com (slingsomeink) — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 01:34:00 +0000

A slight change of plans moved us from Anini to Kahili Beach (aka Rock Quarries) over the weekend. We woke up in the morning to albatross calling and spotted frigate birds, white tail tropic birds, nene and a breach happy humpback. I'm going to come right out and make the bold statement that R.Q is my favorite beach. Yes, there are others more beautiful but EVERY. SINGLE.TIME I've been down there nothing but fun has occurred.

I told someone this today who sniffed, "It's a little overvisited." But all day Saturday and Sunday there were about 6 people in the water at it's most crowded (ok, it was also real flat) and a couple of local families fishing and playing with their naked sand covered babies.

Compare that to some of the beaches closer to me and it was heaven. My favorite Poipu Beach story (only about 10 min from my house) was hanging out with Nick one night watching the sun slink down while munching some cold pizza. A woman in an ill-fitting swim suit proceeded to crawl cat like through the sand scowling? grimacing? pouting? for her husband who snapped the whole scene like a pornographer gasping "Oh yeah baby, that's hot, no THAT's hot right there."

I had grease on my lips, tomato sauce on my fingers and sand down my jocks and even I knew...that was so not hot.

Sweets

noreply@blogger.com (slingsomeink) — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 01:03:00 +0000

Last night bawled against Nick through the lovely Minnesota-set film, Sweet Land. Gorgeous!

Woke up early this morning inventing ice cream flavors I'd like to try. Ideas included: carrot and ginger sorbet, chocolate and chili 'scream, lychee sorbet and coconut date 'scream.

Hoping to get to North Shore tomorrow for a camp out on the lovely Anini Beach. Have been invited to free rein of an amazingly juicy pink grapefruit tree up my road, so off for a scavenge. Makes to best breakfast juice I've ever had.

Better than Folgers in Your Cup

noreply@blogger.com (slingsomeink) — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 18:47:00 +0000

I've been having some slow mornings lately and really relishing the extra time in bed. From my window I have a nice view of a jungly canopy of dense palms and mango. The first thing I hear before opening my eyes is the distant sound of a morning commute, ubiquitous chickens clucking, rustling and finally the roosters. Then come the doves with their cooing which sounds an awful lot like "ooooh" "ooooh" like they're seventh graders watching skateboard videos. Then comes the shama with it's machine gun song followed by the japanese white eyes that flit their tiny (look like flying green marshmallow) bodies through the leaves.

Finally, the sun breaks over the hillside across the valley and the dark green turns to gold.

It's always good to wake up this way.

A Red Flower Day

noreply@blogger.com (slingsomeink) — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 20:47:00 +0000

It's been an anxious week so I'm giving a lovely hibiscus to the universe in hopes of attracting some positive lovin'