Obama and Gasoline

Strange that after eighteen plus months of relentlessly following, backing and, well, loving Obama, Inauguration Day seems like kind of a let-down. After about thirty seconds of reflection, it seems that the problem I'm having is with facing reality...Hope, Change, a new way of Thinking, how will they translate into policy and foreign relations? How does Idealism translate to Realism? I've no doubt that we've elected the best candidate for the job, but can anyone succeed given the monumental load of crap left behind? Let's hope so.

Did you know that all gas stations in New Jersey are Full Serve? In the summer it can be sort of annoying because there is often a wait, but? in the winter? awesome.

James? Loves Full Serve

Missing

A few days ago my stepmom called and asked if the wee ones and I could come out to Colorado for a visit. My dad has been going through a chemo-like treatment (Interferon) since August, and will continue on it until this summer. Anyway, he's been feeling particularly down and made some comments that he had nothing to look forward to. So, off we go next Tuesday, booked using miles (woot).

It's difficult for me to wrap my mind around being the person/family who they think to call when they need cheering up. Essentially, I'll go there and do the same things with my two that I do every day...yet to them it's fun. It would seem, then, that I should find my every day to be fun.

Although I do laugh at least three times a day. We bought Anna this rag doll in Mexico that has a baby doll attached to her with a sling (is it a mayawrap? a peanut shell? I don't know). So this doll is already falling apart, losing her hair and fraying ribbons. Anna asked if she could sleep with her, and I said no. Her reply? "But mama, she has a baby. You wouldn't say no to a baby, would you?" Nope.

Livable?

Yeah, so the whole renting a house idea? Not so great. B commented the other day that he felt like we were back in college, not caring where we lived. That would be true, except we do care where we live. A lot. So much so that we want to live in a house with air conditioning. There are so many issues with this house that we've begun to accept them, which is not a good thing. But, yesterday? In Pennsylvania? The high was 94. And? Today? The high is supposed to be 99. And we have no AC. We were officially off of the chart yesterday, as our thermometer only goes up to 90 and we were well past that. B, in an uncommon show of not-caring-what-he-had-to-do-and-just-doing-it went out to the Depot and bought us a brand spankin' new window air conditioner that he installed, not without some anguish in the 94 degree sauna that was our bedroom. We dragged A's mattress in here and had a cozy little slumber party last night. Cozy.

A confession.

It is only fitting that a first post would be completely centered around my complaining. But this complaint is worth it, I promise.

For one, I've crossed over the line from being "cute and pregnant" to being "holy shit, how pregnant are you?" In fact, I'm 28 weeks and a few days, which is technically the third trimester but feels more like the beginning since now is the time when I start counting DOWN the weeks and days instead of counting UP. I'm no longer 28 weeks, in my mind, but I have 11 weeks to go (the exact schedule of a planned c-section finally has an advantage).

More importantly, we will soon be homeless. And yes, dear Ben, I know that you would never let us live out of our car. Although its a good thing our cars are small because you can't deny that you've thought about it, at least for a night. But in 25 days we have to be out of this house and we, as of today, have no alternative. I think worse than the thought of impending doom is the strain the situation causes on our marriage. Every night we quickly go from exchanging pleasantries and interesting anecdotes about our day to arguing and stressing over the housing situation, or lack thereof. Sucks.

That's not to say, though, that there aren't any bright spots. Anna provides most of them. Here is a brief, incomplete list of my favorite things about her. I'll limit myself to 5 this time:

1. She constantly talks. And talks. And while some would find this annoying, I find it utterly charming and an insight into what she's thinking.

2. She can get her own snacks. Remember when I said I was fat?

3. She has looked at every house in Central NJ and has only complained 3 or 4 times. This has been going on for months, and her only request is to use the bathroom once in awhile and for a pack of Yogo Bits. To make her feel better.

4. She can travel, by car, for 12 hours straight and complain about it MAYBE twice. And those complaints are generally short lived and a result of wanting a(nother) snack.

5. She has developed the laugh of a kid, which is distinctly different from that of the giggle of a toddler. I'm not so sure I like this, but its there.

Most importantly, I'm thankful for positive, clear results on ultrasounds. We had our fourth (and final!) one yesterday and everything that was cause for concern has now cleared.