Walking Backwards

Blah, I am finally starting to feel better after over a week of horrible allergies accompanied by coughing that paralleled that of an 90 year-old emphysema patient. I should have know when we moved in to this house six months ago that my allergies were going to be worse this year. We live adjacent to the greenbelt which is an area in Austin that is purposely left undeveloped as it is part of our aquifer' recharge zone. Every tree known to man is now blooming. Even Nicholas got in on the allergy action and sounds quite funny all stopped up. Amazingly enough, I am ready for spring to be over even though it does mean the summer will be upon us.


Today is Joe's 30th birthday and we don't really have any plans. We are probably going to have some friends over for dinner, but it is going to be very low key. Last year he had a party at Laser Quest, but I don't know if I can do that again. Having a bunch of twenty-something men running around like pre-teen boys is a little more than I can handle. Not only that, but Joe wanted me to spend more on his gift than on his party, selfish man :). He is handling being thirty remarkably well, it doesn't even seem to phase him. I don't see anything different about turning thirty, but he talked about it so much that I thought his thirtieth birthday would get more of a reaction. We'll see, the day is young.

Ah, the disturbing, chewy goodness of it all. This evening I discovered the lovely Vietnamese restaurant down the street. It is much more lovely than the Vietnamese restaurant closest to us and is only about three minutes more of a drive. What is better is that they carry bubble tea. So now I am sitting here and polishing off my green bubble tea. A perfect finish to the vermicelli bowl that I had for dinner. I really hope that this doesn't become a habit because we are supposed to be cutting back on the amount we go out to eat.


Yesterday, Nicholas, Joe, and I went to the San Antonio zoo with Maria and Fiona. I must say that I do miss having the snazzy zoo in town. Austin's zoo just isn't even worth mentioning. It wasn't very crowded and we got through most of the zoo before the babies decided they had enough. Nicholas thought that the fighting mountain goats were quite funny butting their heads together. We also got to experience duck love first hand. I think the male duck was quite offended with our pointing and laughing, so we decided to leave them alone and let nature take its course (despite the fact that the female duck seemed against the whole idea). The babies were so cute together. They kept trying to out do each other in screeching volume. Fiona passed out shortly after leaving, but Nicholas resisted the urge to sleep and was quite cranky by the time we arrived home. He didn't appreciate the hour-long drive home it seems.


Joe started his vacation this week which means he is going to be around for the next three weeks strait. I am just hoping we don't drive each other crazy. We aren't used to being around each other 24-7. When he is home from Dallas two days a week, we get to see the best of each other. Its like a mini romantic weekend (with the baby of course). The hardest part will be getting used to each other's schedules. I think I'm already driving Joe a bit mad because I don't sleep or eat like a normal person. I usually go most of the day without eating and then have a big dinner and snack attack in the evening because my asthma treatments make my appetite a little less than normal. I also have insomnia so I stay up a lot later than he likes. I also am driven crazy trying to keep the house clean. The fact that he doesn't know how to efficiently pick up after himself is a little annoying. I'm sure he is put on edge by my need to keep the house straitened even through it is obviously a losing battle. I'm am so happy that he is here that it makes up for all of our off-putting inclinations. I hope he feels the same.

My allergies are driving me crazy. I had forgotten how bad they get in the spring. Everything is so lovely and blooming, but I wish it would just stop. The stuffy head and the medication are making me feel like I'm under water. I have decided to skip the day at the Wildflower Center because it might just kill me. At least Nicholas seems relatively okay. Very grouchy, but okay.

Here is today's Friday Five:

If you...

1. ...owned a restaurant, what kind of food would you serve?
French cuisine, but I would have to learn to cook it

2. ...owned a small store, what kind of merchandise would you sell?
Books or children's stuff

3. ...wrote a book, what genre would it be?
historical fiction

4. ...ran a school, what would you teach?
Classical literature or history

5. ...recorded an album, what kind of music would be on it?
jazz, but then I would need to learn to play an instrument

Today just feels like a lazy day. It is one of the first times in months that Joe and I don't have something to do on his day off. Being the incredibly insane person I am, I've been trying all day to come up with plans for us. I seem totally incapable of just sitting down and relaxing when there is a free moment. I want to do all of the things that we are unable to because either Joe is gone or we have too much real-life stuff getting in the way. The good news is that in my zeal to try and figure out something for us to do, I have whiled away all of the morning and a good chunk of the afternoon. We are probably just going to clean up around the house now and maybe go to ToysR'Us. Joe's vacation starts next week so we really aren't pressured to do anything yet. Hmmm, a relaxing day off . . . is it possible?

Which poem are you? The Mad Girl's Love Song by Sylvia Plath To you, love is desperate and hateful. You're wildly passionate and wildly inventive. You're also likely to start stalking people.

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Nicholas has learned a new word. He has learned how to say 'mine'. He now is clinging to my checkbook and every time I try to take it he starts claiming "mine, mine". I don't think that my falling to the floor and laughing each time he does it is the proper disciplinary method.

Yesterday, Nico, Joe and I went to SeaWorld. We had quite a lot of fun just wandering around. No shows, though. The first bit of advice I have to offer to anyone going to SeaWorld is that they bring a time piece. There was no way for us to know when any of the shows started. The upside is that we do have season passes and will be able to see the shows next time. It wasn't crowded at all being the middle of the week and threatening to rain all day. We didn't have to wait in line to look at any of the exhibits and I wouldn't have had to wait for any of the rides if we had chosen to go on them. The next time we go, we'll have a better idea of what to do and where to go. Nicholas really seemed to enjoy the dolphin feeding tank but we showed up right at the beginning of their feeding time, so it was packed. Next time we'll have to get there a bit early. Some lovely pics:

Here is the entrance -



Nico and Joe playing the bumper boats -



Nico asleep in his stroller -



After we left SeaWorld, we went to go visit Maria and Fiona. Maria's friend, Melissa, was over and we had a girlie spa night. I got to demonstrate my Body Shop products, but I am beginning to realize that direct sales just isn't for me. See, I like the spoiling, pampering part, but I don't like the selling part. I am going to still try, of course, I just am never going to be able to give the marketing speal with a straight face.


I got a call when I was out of town yesterday from Nico's preschool and he got in! Yay! I was so worried because I hadn't put him on the list in any other program and all the programs without a waiting lists were very expensive. He starts the week after Labor Day. He is one of only ten children to get into this program from a waiting list of hundreds. Its a co-op too so Joe and I will get to be involved with the school, I am beyond excited.


tomorrow is my 25th birthday and dad is coming into town to take me to lunch. Joe already baked me a cake and got me some cool stuff. I now have my own copy of the Red Tent and a step-stool from Nicholas and Carnivale recordings from Joe. Pretty swell. Now, I need to pick up something for Joe's birthday at the end of the month.

Here is the Friday Five for this week. I am going to update this evening with all that I've done this week, including some good news :)

1. What was the last song you heard?
'2 Wicky' by Hooverphonic in the car on the way to SA

2. What were the last two movies you saw?
Manchurian Candidate and Whale Rider

3. What were the last three things you purchased?
Parking at SeaWorld, food at SeaWorld and gas to get to SeaWorld

4. What four things do you need to do this weekend?
Lunch with dad, put down weed killer in the backyard, make list of stuff to do for spring cleaning, and go to the post office

5. Who are the last five people you talked to?
Nicholas, Joe, Travis, Dad, and the lady from Nico's preschool

Nothing nice to say, so I am not going to say it at all. Bad week.

I really want to have an organic yard and garden. I really, really do. But, I've been weeding the front yard for over two hours over the last few days and I'm not even remotely close to being finished. There is no way it is going to be done without some sort of weed killer. I may be able to get the beds done, but the yard was so neglected by the previous owners that we have more weeds than grass. Pictures and more details will be added to my garden journal tomorrow, but for now I can complain here.


I got my hair cut yesterday and I really like it. I am afraid, however, of the work that is required in order for it to be "cute". I have to use a flat iron on the ends. Cross your fingers for me because I have never used one of these things before. I hope I don't end up toasting my hair or my ears or anything else it comes close to. I was just tired of it being drab and long. Cutting my hair was just a culmination of an altogether girlie week. I went dress and shoe shopping with my mom earlier in the week and went clothes shopping with Joe on Wednesday. Next thing you know I'll be wearing make-up everyday. I don't know what has gotten into me. I want to be a girlie-girl. Frightening thought.


My mother's trip here was not without its downfalls. She was only here for three days and I had hoped that we could refrain from our usual mutual irritations in those short days, but, alas, I fear not. The main point of contention among us is my son. She thinks he is a monster with no discipline. He isn't the best behaved thing around, but I know that he is just being an average toddler. When we are at restaurants for over an hour and a half (twice a day), please forgive me if I need to take the baby to the garden to run around and play. He is not just going to sit in his high-chair and remain enthralled in adult conversation. Especially when everyone is acting as if he isn't there. We also went out to eat on the last day when she was here and he was feeling sick. He cried and screamed the entire time. My mother kept telling me I should be embarrassed, that my son needs to be put on Ritilan. No wonder Nico is terrified of her. I really hope we can just avoid her until the baby is in grade school. She doesn't seem to like the role of grandmother and I don't want her attitude around us. It is too negative.


Speaking of disciplining my child, we have run into a roadblock. Last week when Jon put him in the corner for not helping pick up his books, which were all over the floor, he got upset at first. Then he realized what a great game it was. All night we had to keep going into the front room to take him out of the corner. All he wanted to do all night was stand in the corner and pick at the wall. He has been going back and standing in the corner all week. Crazy child. We did find an alternate method of punishment. Even though it isn't what we want to do, it is quite effective. We have started to leave Nicholas alone in our room for two minutes when he is disobedient. Those are two very long minutes, but we are at our wits end with a child who seems to enjoy every punishment. He laughs at our "loud" voice and then copies us. Sheesh.


Uh, other things that happened this week that I don't have time to talk about - Nicholas went to Reygan's birthday party at ToysR'Us and had a blast, I got three new (awesome) Cds, I skipped all of Nicholas' classes this week, I gave Joe a spa treatment, I got in all of my Body Shop at Home stuff, and I've watched a lot of television.


Until next time . . . (theme music)

Well, its been a week since my last real entry and quite a bit has happened. Unfortunately, I just don't have time to sit and do a real entry at this moment. I will do one some time today. For now - the Friday Five:

What was...

1. ...your first grade teacher's name?
Mrs. Watson

2. ...your favorite Saturday morning cartoon?
Mighty Mouse

3. ...the name of your very first best friend?
Amber

4. ...your favorite breakfast cereal?
A toss up between Crunch Berries and Fruity Pebbles

5. ...your favorite thing to do after school?
Explore the woods around our neighborhood