Late to the party

My last meme (ok, my last post) generated some questions about what memes are, why they are, and exactly how different they are from the old chain letters that used to come in the mail. This was good, as I love researching obscure and unimportant things, especially when those things take me away from more important things. Like homework.

So, when I read Mamacate's request, then saw this spread across tons of other blogs, I was inspired. That, and it was not that long ago that this starving grad student begged for survey respondents. If you haven't already, do the guy a favor and check out the link to the project, write a post, and ping here. No sweat, right? Heck, even I can do it.

If the concept of memes, language viruses, and how this has affected the Internet, has any interest for you (I'm going to go totally librarian here and recommend a book) read Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson. Though I'm not a fan of Wikipedia, the two links above do a good job of describing the plot outlines. If it sounds a little weird, that's ok. Not only is it a great read if you like Sci Fi and a good read if you don't, it's was required reading in two of my undergraduate classes (Political Futures and Postmodern American Literature). That means it must be good, right? :)

Its funny to me that here, at the end of my post, it occurs to me that I've written almost nothing about what I had intended to. Quickly, then: In good news, I found the camera! It was hiding in the car the whole time I tore the (700 sq. ft.) house apart looking for it! In not-so-great news, it seems that sometime when I wasn't keeping good watch on Juniperbunny he ate the camera's power cable (thankfully not while plugged in). I hope to shamelessly dig into my hard drive for old pics and actually post more regularly until we finally remember to go to Radio Shack get that new cable.

Also, I'm approaching the end of my first trimester (yay!!!) which I hope means I'll be able to string together some more coherent thoughts. I've been kinda bummed by some of my recent posts not reading the way I want them to, and have been placing the blame squarely on the fig-sized young one. Please tell me I'll be mentally back to my old self soon? And the morning sickness will *poof!* disappear on Sunday, too? Please?

Thanksgiving

I am going to shamelessly borrow this meme from Carole, as it perfectly matches my mood today. We've been baking since last night, and got up early this (very gray, chilly) morning to finish up before we're due to be at our friends'. I've been wanting to blog since yesterday, too (a nice change of pace from my recent absence!) but the camera has gone MIA and I can't show my wee little project (or the sock that's nearly done). Until then, have a Happy Thanksgiving!!

1. Which do you like better: Cooking at your house, or going elsewhere? I SO much prefer cooking at my house, but as I've lived in tiny places for most of my adult life I find that cooking at home and bringing food with me is the perfect balance. Like this year.

2. Do you buy a fresh or frozen bird? I generally buy a fresh bird, as frozen birds come with too much anxiety. I can't be the only one who pokes at it for days, worried it won't defrost in time...

3. What kind of stuffing? My Mom's family recipe. I was so proud the year I was promoted from Bread Tearer to Sauteer (that can't be spelled right. Saute-er?) It was one of my big achievements! I've called my Mom from multiple states over the years, to make sure I've prepared it just right.

4. Sweet potato or pumpkin pie? Neither. I like Pecan, personally.

5. Do you believe that turkey leftovers are a curse, or the point of the whole thing? Curse? Ohhhh, because you get sick of them! When I make a turkey for just the two of us (like this year, when we're going to our (vegetarian) friends' house) I usually pick a wee bird. Just enough for ONE day's leftovers, not so much that every time I open the fridge for a week I see the carcass and cringe.

6. Which side dish would provoke a riot if you left it off the menu? For me, the stuffing :) Mr. Cygknit is a Fiend for sweet potato casserole.

7. Do you save the carcass to make soup or stock? I admit that I always *mean* to, but never quite get there.

8. What do you wish you had that would make preparing Thanksgiving dinner easier? Oh, more counter space, without a doubt.

9. Do you get up at the crack of dawn to have dinner ready in the early afternoon, or do you eat at your normal dinner hour? Growing up, we always ate early afternoon. That's sorta programmed into me, and I cant sleep late on Thanksgiving for any reason.

10. If you go to somebody else's house, what's your favorite dish to bring? I've brought everything from green bean casserole to fresh bread. I pretty much cook whatever the hostess wishes.

11. What do you wish one of your guests wouldn't bring to your house? My first thought was my step-sister's alcoholic husband, but thankfully we're far from the drama-makers in our families. (I know that wasn't very nice, but it really was my first thought.)

12. Does your usual mix of guests result in drama, or is it a group you're happy to see? Since we moved up to CT, I've been away from my family for holidays. They're a pretty dramatic bunch, but in that quiet way where it sort of eddys around the room until someone explodes. I've been lucky to see various family on non-holiday visits, which reduces the stress level for everyone.

13. What's your absolute favorite thing on the menu? I'm a starch girl. Give me lots of 'tatoes and stuffing, please!

And Carole added this one, which is so very appropriate this year:

14. What are you thankful for this year? I'm thankful for my health. This year was so stressful, with several months of doctors questioning if I had breast cancer, and then with one surgery and another to go. I am so lucky to be in the not-yet cancer stage, and to have had the support of all of you through that time. Then, during this same time we were told we'd need treatments if we ever wanted kids...and here I am with a kumquat on the way that I never expected I'd be lucky enough to have. This year, I'm so grateful for all the support I've had from Mr. Cygnet, my family, my friends--including all you blog folk who've become my friends this year. I have to stop, I'm getting all teary!

What about you? What are you thankful for this Thanksgiving?

Catch-up and A Story

So, I started a post on Sunday. Really and truly and 100% about a wee project I was knitting. I was so excited to be both knitting and blogging that I may well have swelled up with pride at my own cleverness. As the Knitting Fates would have it, I apparently abandoned said project just an inch and a half from completion. I would feel guilty about this except that it is out of sight (it may well be under the sofa, I heard the bunny chewing on something last night).

After sending the story below in an email to Lisa, she asked if I would post it on the blog. Since the likelihood of me finishing that wee project and subsequent post is slim, I present this. (Please don't read if you have a weak stomach.)

The Joys of Morning Sickness, or Where Olive Gets Her Due

So, this morning I was brushing my teeth as I was getting ready for work. Olive, of course, wanted to be in on the fun and jumped up onto the sink just as I was about to spit out my toothpaste. Because she was taking up the entire sink space, I kept the toothpaste inside instead of spitting it out--which activated my gag reflex. Up came my breakfast as I pushed her out of the sink. After cursing a bit, I grabbed my toothbrush and paste again, figuring I should freshen up before work. This was a bad idea; my gag reflex was in full swing and it took just a moment for the rest of breakfast to come up. Just at that critical moment, Olive darted across the front of the sink again, and whisked her tail up to my mouth. Her misplaced appendage acted as a slide and she ended up covered with all I had left in me.

It has been suggested that Karma is a bitch. Perhaps Olive should remember this the next time she chases snakes, gets stuck on the roof, breaks yet another wedding present, or looses *her* lunch next to my side of the bed?

Maybe I'm just being cranky.

Where have I been??

I had no idea that I hadn't posted since October 26. That is, until I started getting emails from various folks. Some were really nice, saying wonderful things of worry and concern. Others? They were a little more, um, forceful. I love my friends (but sometimes they scare me). The whole time, all I could think of was my utter lack of knitting and spinning content. I had absolutely nothing to blog about besides my homework. And if I don't find my homework interesting, then it is some pretty crappy blog material.

After my big week of homework I blogged about last time, I was so exhausted I slept all the time. 8 pm and time for prime time? I was snoozing on the couch. Time to write a paper (because it was due the next day). Face down on the bed, still in my work clothes. I thought I was just recouping from the monumental homework week.

I am not a smart girl, as can be seen. The evidence?

I found that I was more than 8 weeks pregnant.


(My little one, at 8 weeks and 6 days)

Some important parts of the picture:

-The big part under the word "Dad" is his/her head
-The arrow is pointing to an arm. When she took the picture, the little hand was waving at me!
-The dark spot a bit under the arm is the heart. It was beating so fast, and totally beyond "neat" to see it pulsating. I cried.
-At the end, the part that goes up near the top is the umbilical cord.

I have to tell you that I *never* believed that I was pregnant. It didn't matter that I haven't been able to eat a thing for four freakin' weeks without feeling like I'd yak it right back up. I thought it was an ulcer. An inability to stay awake if I sat still for more than five minutes? Well, it has been busy at work. No more sleeping on my stomach because the girls protested? That's just PMS...that lasted a month.

As I said, I am not bright. But holy crap, look what I have to look forward to.