A Fresh Start

In order.

1. My roasted beet, goat cheese, and cranberry salad for lunch. I roasted some beets this morning and walked down the hill to get lettuces for it. But of course, pregnant lady is pregnant and right now I am thoroughly enjoying my chemical laden Cool Ranch Doritos. Serious tasty yuck. I was actually craving the chemicals. Shhh, don't tell anyone.

2. Adam returning from his 2.5 week trip to the US (he doesn't leave til next Thursday). Mostly because I'm exhausted just thinking about taking care of B for that long all by myself. I've been so queasy and tired. I really hope it passes soon. But Adam is also going to bring me back some special loot from the States.

3. I keep forgetting to mention this. Adam, B and I are going to Paris for a week in a November! We'll be spending the Thanksgiving holiday there with Adam's parents. Adam's parents went there last Thanksgiving and totally fell in love with Paris. They don't speak French know anything about art beyond Monet's flowers and definitely know nothing about French food. Such a very very unlikely match! And yet: love. So they are going back. And it only costs £50 round trip per person for us to get there. WIN! I've never been to Paris and I am *so excited*.

4. Having a baby. It still feels quite abstract. And February is a long way off. I'm scared about what this is going to do to my studies. But I'm thrilled to have another child.

5. The Twig is coming to visit me next summer! She and I talked via Skype yesterday and she said she had enough miles for a free trip to the UK. Yay!

Full Metal Alchemist. Thanks, bravenewcentury!

Pukka herbal teas. I want to try each and every one. We have 5 different kinds currently on hand.

The abundant bird life here. I'm not very good with my birds, but I know I've seen magpies, ravens, swans, hawks (maybe kestrels or kites?), mourning doves, and various other kinds of finches and blackbirds, and other birdies.

The cold clear weather, and the dark.

We decided to break our lease and move. Across the board, from the sane and sober, and everyone in between, we keep hearing horror stories about mold. So we're out. My adviser has mentioned possibly renting her house to us when she moves in January, and tomorrow we look at another professor's house.

If you're the praying type (or your equivalent), please pray for three things.
1) That our landlords will graciously let us out of our lease
2) That we find a wonderful, healthy, less expensive alternative
3) That no lasting damage has been done to our health

Thanks.

*Thurs, July 16, 4pm: Give Away, Go Away party. Come for the free stuff, stay for the deep fried turkey! Snuggle the baby one last time and say goodbye to us. Private message me if you want to come and need directions.

*Sat, July 18, Bennett and I catch a flight to San Diego. Adam and his father drive the Uhaul with the cats down to SD.

*July 20: snowcalla is in San Diego and I might to get see her that week?

*Thurs, July 23: I go to ComiCon with Adam.

*Tues July 28: Bennett and I head to Juneau. We'll be incommunicado out on Shelter Island. Sis arrives Aug. 2.

*Fri, Aug 7: Go to Juneau proper, the Future Governor of Alaska and her babe join us.

*Tues, Aug 11: Back to San Diego.

I have until 2.30 today to do my own thing and I think part of tomorrow too. Tomorrow evening I'm going to the opera to see La Traviata. I'm so excited for opera. Ohmygoshsoexcited.

Today I am definitely going for a bike ride, possibly a long walk around Mountainview Cemetery.... hmmm I think I'll meditate there. After that, I'm eating a big ol' cheeseburger.

Tomorrow I may go shopping for a new bra and some pants. And go to yoga.

I thought about going into the city for the Japanese baths, but I do not want to go into the city and deal with public transportation today.

Ok, that's a little over 4 hours today. I'm outta here!

What a great day today is. Really. This whole weekend has been great. Making some decisions about my mental health has turned me around. I like it. Today B, Adam and I went to the park nearby to get out. It's in the 80s here - first hot day since fall. We witnessed BMX Critical Mass - 200 males on BMX bikes descending on the park. It was great! And then the Oakland Police showed up. This made me nervous. But everything was fine. No one died.

As I lay on my blanket I decided to make some lists about things I'll miss (and not miss) about leaving the Bay Area.

( Here goes )

*I love the winter holidays. Wish it felt more wintery and festive 'round these here parts.

*This nuclear family bullshit is isolating and I hate it. It takes way more than two people to raise one kid. The radical feminist in me is appalled at the binds I find myself in. I think the nuclear family is one of the single greatest myths that patriarchy has perpetuated in modern times.

*Adam and I are considering having B model. I feel conflicted about this. We are constantly getting told that B should be a baby model. We have a friend that used to be a children's agent. Extra money for a savings for B would be wonderful. We hear it's about $60/hr. But.... do I really want to support the advertising and modeling business? It also feels rather exploitative of Bennett, and he cannot offer his consent. It's like getting in bed with the devil. Feedback, please.

*There is so much to do to prepare for our trip. With no child care this week, I will be leaving my job with a lot of loose ends, and there's just not much I can do about that. I'm not sure I care all that much. I feel some guilt about being half-assed, but you know, if I really truly cared I'd find a way to get everything done.

*Off to start dinner while B is asleep. Wish I was asleep.

*Also, I think I am going to try to eliminate sugar from my diet for the duration of my trip. All the holiday sweets are starting to make me feel bad.

I need to get my head in order.

( Things to do before leaving for Australia )

( Things to do in general )

( To do before Election Returns Party )

( Goals )