Date:	2008-03-25 11:05
Subject:	Size Matters
Security:	Public
Mood:	embarrassed

I've started exercising regularly again. I haven't been in the habit of hitting the gym since we moved to Vegas almost 2 1/2 years ago and it shows on the scales and in my clothing size. It's been just over a month and I've lost just over 10 lbs so far. I'm a little embarrassed to post about this, but I figure that it'll keep me honest, right? I've been tracking my workouts and walking mileage over at mapmywalk.  It lets you map out your walking route independent of the street layout so you can get an accurate distance measurement. It turns on my inner geek. I've started a group to help keep me motivated. Give me a holler if you want to join.

Date:	2008-03-18 09:13
Subject:	Just to prove the I can post about something less depressing
Security:	Public
Mood:	curious
Music:	Big Time - Peter Gabriel

Mr. echoree showed me the video for Peter Gabriel's Big Time this morning. It was the first thing we did today, aside from feeding the baby. 
Ah, early morning domesticity a la YouTube. This conversation ensued:

Mr. echoree: Yeah, Peter Gabriel is one of those Avant-garde guys. This video won all kinds of awards for the stop motion and stuff.
Me: (turns head sideways)It's trippy.
Mr. echoree: Yeah.
Me. And Peter Gabriel is so young!
Mr. echoree: ...
Me: And kinda hot. 
Mr. echoree: ... In that sort of metrosexual way.
Me: Yeah, it was the '80s. 

Forgive us, for we know not what we do. We were but wee small children in the '80s. Also, I didn't even have a TV, let alone cable and MTV. (curses her culturally stilted upbringing)

Date:	2008-03-16 10:59
Subject:
Security:	Public
Mood:	moody
Music:	Ball Popper rendition of Rah Rah Rah Boom De A

When the baby was smaller and I was his only source of food, I was his favorite person in universe. Everyone else could dissolve into some alternate dimension and he wouldn't even notice. Now he's a toddler who hasn't nursed for months, eats whatever he wants and hangs out with his dad all day. I am no longer his sun and moon and stars. At best I'm a supporting character in the animated short that is his life. Mr. echoree is now the one who can comfort him in an instant. I'm no longer the one who knows him best. I'm not his favorite anymore. 

Don't get me wrong, he still likes me, he's just not in like with me. I'm not as crushed by this as you might think. I don't really have the temperament to stay home with a baby all day, every day.* It drives me a little nuts. At the same time I miss him every day that I go to work and leave him at home.  But it's better than dropping him off at daycare to be looked after by strangers who don't have time to get down on the floor and play with him or rock him to sleep at naptime. 

Still working on the whole work/life balance thing. I hope things will be better when we move back to Seattle. Mr. echoree will be working full time (and more during the busy season) so I'm looking for part-time work so I can spend more time with the baby. I just want to fast-forward these next few months. 

*See yesterday's post re: my mom. We have a lot in common.

I'm posting this from the bus. Really, I'm on a public transit bus from Carson City to Reno and it's a Wifi Hot spot. Nice. $3.50 buys you a 1 hour ride to the airport and some internet access to boot, beats renting a car and driving!

It's been an eventful time at Chez Echoree. Hank had surgury last month and has recovered pretty much fully (we're still waiting for a follow up appointment with the surgeon) Some of you saw us when we were up in Seattle for a few days recently. It was Mr. Echoree's 10-year high school reunion so we took a trip. Hank got to meet more of his cousins and we got to see many friends and family.

I'm really missing the PNW these days.

Almost to the airport. More later.

Date:	2007-06-21 14:37
Subject:	Back on (in?) the Saddle Again
Security:	Public
Mood:	chipper

I did storytime again for the first time since before I went on maternity leave, several months ago now. I must say, it's not nearly as exhausting as I remember. (Something to do with not being hugely pregnant!)

Date:	2007-06-14 14:36
Subject:	Why I don't do pets
Security:	Public
Mood:	bitchy
Music:	Typin'

My co-worker's very young, pregnant dog probably has VD! Youch! (She just adopted the dog from a family that wasn't taking very good care of her as you might have guessed) Dealing with all these problems is the downside of rescuing dogs, but if anyone can handle it, she can.

To retain my self identity etcetera, I've started up a "family blog". It's mostly about Hank. It's at blogger (Traitor!) If you're interested you can check it out here.
Hankasaurus

Date:	2007-05-08 11:55
Subject:	*sniff*
Security:	Public
Mood:	Emo

Someone's baby died of SIDS. I don't know them, but someone made a donation in memory of the child to our library. I was asked to make a list of picture books to buy with the money. On the top of my list? Love You Forever by Robert N. Munsch, that book makes me cry.

Date:	2007-03-27 12:15
Subject:	Fast times
Security:	Public
Mood:	drained

I now know that the heavens are out to get me. It was a beautiful, sunny day and I was carrying Hank in a sling when I heard a sickening crack accompanied by a sharp pain in my head. The branch that struck me lay on the ground looking innocent and I was left with tears in my eyes and great relief that it hadn't hit the baby. Either the universe is a random place, or someone up there doesn't like me.

I'm still on maternity leave, but I've pretty much recovered from the whole giving birth thing so I've been traveling. [how many tenses can she fit in one sentence?] Mr. echoree and I took Hank to see our ancestral lands. Ok, so no land to speak of but lots of family and friends back home. Now I'm visiting my friend T whose in the states from Japan and brassratgirl in CA. Hank travels pretty well except he turns into a pumpkin (read fuss-bucket) at 8PM so it's been interesting spending time with friends in the evening. Thankfully they're patient and enamored with the little fellow.

I saw Carrot Top at Williams-Sonoma.
He's scary ugly.
That is all.

Well, we've moved, again. This is the 4th time since last November. I believe this may be a record. Shout out to biznamshiznit who injured her back the day before the big move, but soldiered on helping us anyway! She's my hero. J and K also helped us out, J's trick back gave out in the late morning, v. sad for us all but he was relieved by his wife who brought us lunch and took charge, kicking us into high gear. We couldn't have done this without you guys! That said, Mr. Echoree and I hereby promise to hire professionals and never ask our friends to help us move again. We're getting to old for this. Also we are now neighbors of the aforementioned, lovely biznamshiznit, we even ran into her at the grocery store already. If you need our new address, send me an e-mail.
All is well with the pregnancy, only 46 days until the baby's overdue, I may fine him if he is ;)

Date:	2006-11-07 15:10
Subject:
Security:	Public
Mood:	congested

Here's a picture I took on our trip to my grandparent's house in Mexico last week.


Needless to say, it was awesome. Unfortunately, I got sick after we got back with a nasty, nasty cold which is only now getting better. I'm glad to be back at work though!

What American accent do you have? Your Result: The Northeast Judging by how you talk you are probably from north Jersey, New York City, Connecticut or Rhode Island. Chances are, if you are from New York City (and not those other places) people would probably be able to tell if they actually heard you speak.
Philadelphia
The Midland
The Inland North
Boston
The South
The West
North Central
What American accent do you have?

Strange seing as how my Mother is from Washington DC, my Father is from Southern Utah, they met in Arizona and I grew up in the Northwest. My speech therapist must have beat the West out of me.

Date:	2006-10-24 17:49
Subject:	Hormones
Security:	Public
Mood:	hormonal
Music:	Small children reading aloud

OMG. Crying over an oil change. This has got to stop!
( Here's what made me feel better. )

Date:	2006-10-23 10:48
Subject:
Security:	Public
Mood:	chipper
Music:	Clickety Clack

Not a fun morning, first I wasn't allowed to eat breakfast, then I had to drink this nasty "fruit punch" glucose drink, sit around for an hour trying not to throw up and at last, have my blood drawn. Yay. At least now we'll know if my body handles sugar properly. Really though, couldn't they just let me eat a lot of candy instead?

Now that I've had something to eat we can get on to more pleasant topics. Mr Echoree and I are going to Mexico for a few days. My grandparents live on the beach about a 10 hour drive from here and I have a three day weekend*. Road trip!

Fantastic program at the library this last weekend. I threw a DDR party for the teens and they actually showed up! 25 of them! This is some kind of record, we'll have to do this again.

*Thank you Nevada, for being born. Thank you Nevadans, for caring.

I smelled weed among the children's librarians today. I also taught some of them to play DDR.
Coincidence?

Date:	2006-09-15 03:19
Subject:	Stranger in a Strange Land
Security:	Public
Mood:	amused

I'm in Pittsburgh for a children's librarian conference and find myself lacking 2 things.
1- a keyboard (my PDA stylus is starting to give me a cramp)
2- milk-like creamer but from cows and with less cream. None of the restaurants here seem to serve it. So far I've been offered the following substitutes
half and half (actually the closest so far)
heavy cream (yes ma'm I would love to drink a pint of cream with my dinner. Who wouldn't!)
tea
iced tea
lemonade
coffee
water

All fine beverages (excepting the 1st 2) but not the particular cow product I'm looking for. Notice, yuns, that no one has offered the high profit margin soda (or is it pop in PA?) perhapse they think someone asking for a wholesome glass of moo-juice would rather drink 1/2 and 1/2!

Baby in Profile And here's the rest of him. That's right, it's a boy!

( Thumbsucker )

Date:	2006-08-31 15:51
Subject:	Baby pics
Security:	Public
Mood:	happy

Congratulations!
It's a foot.