I'd buy you a green dress, but not a real green dress, that's cruel.
My ultimate dream list (at least the part of it I can think of now) in no particular order:
1) Pay off the house, consider a small expansion, reno the basement and toss in some upgrades
2) Invest in family, open to interpretation
3) Invest in landscaping. Lots and LOTS of landscaping. Did I mention the landscaping?
4) Finally go on our honeymoon, first class tickets to one of those tiki huts over the water in Bora Bora. Yes please!
5) Hot. Tub.
6) 4-door hatchback Yaris with a pearl paint job. Don't judge.
7) Charities, charities, charities
8) Travel to Germany, Scotland, Ireland, Japan, Brazil, Canada, any and everywhere tropical.......
9) Start up a homestead with chickens and alpacas!
10) Become a Dive Master
11) Finish my two partially completed degrees
12) Invest and Save
13) Take cooking classes
14) In-ground trampoline. Jealous?
15) Team up with Clif to build the physical Center for Wilderness Safety. See also: start up a Homestead
16) Hire a personal trainer
17) Have a cabaret belly dance costume custom designed just for me
Huh. I thought this list would be so much longer. Perhaps you all could give me some ideas to add. What would your list include?
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Blog On: Pet Peeves
The lovely and ever-fabulous Maggie invited me to a blogging group on Facebook, an invitation I am very flattered for. Today is my first go with a weekly topic idea that is presented each Sunday and luckily it's a no-brainer for me:
Disrespect. See also rudeness, selfishness, inability to be aware of a world of people also trying to live their lives just outside your personal bubble.
I feel so passionately about living a life that is aware of the multitude of lives trying to share one space that I couldn't possibly put all my thoughts down on the matter. They are plentiful and emotional and significant. What I will elaborate on is how distressing it is to fear the direction our collective societal train is heading. It is easy and common place for people to shirk responsibilities with the reasoning that someone else will be along, eventually, to clean up behind them. Be it literally (why clean the trash off of my table when I'm done eating, that's what this restaurant hires staff for) or otherwise (I'm going to do what I want regardless of how my decision may impact someone else) it is out of control. Admission of mistakes and acknowledgement of wrongdoings are replaced by phrases like, "Oh well, not my problem" or "They'll get over it".
Respect is simple and can manifest in so many ways. No thing is too small to deserve respect: time, belongings, emotions, differing opinions. They all deserve far more effort and attention than we give them.
What may be even more maddening than the act of selfishness itself are the people who accept is as the norm. "Well, that's just how things are now", or "Yes, it is sad but you just have to accept it". We should never accept a blatant lack of respect as any kind of norm. Being respectful and aware of everyone around you, whether they are a friend or relative or complete and total stranger that you may never see again we all deserve to be treated better.
I want to share a story that is a little bit of a stretch for this topic, but stay with me. After several months of belonging to a photography-based hobby forum site I was invited to join a group of members on a day trip out of town. Now, on this trip we made a snap decision to visit a second location for more photography goodness, a decision kindly considered ill-advised considering our lack of planning, the time of day and having way too many people try to enter at once. Things happened (the whole story requires its own post) and we thought we had been caught (you see, access to this location was not exactly legal). The majority of the group hit the ground running as fast as possible for our exit through a small hole in the fence. As fast as possible is a speed that differs greatly person to person, hence my shock and amazement that one person from the group looked over his shoulder, saw my struggle to keep up and deliberately slowed his pace so he could keep stride with me. So I wouldn't be alone. This might not seem like a big deal but we were basically strangers before that day and had we truly been discovered by the law he would have been risking himself to stick with me. You've got to admit it, that's not an action you see very often these days, especially when while participating in the hobby in question it is pretty much an unspoken rule that it's every man for himself and no one would blame you for looking out for Number One. I will never forget his simple action and the impact it made on me. In the midst of chaos, when he could have suffered for his decision, he altered his actions to look out for someone he hardly knew.
Now, wouldn't that be a nice norm?
Disrespect. See also rudeness, selfishness, inability to be aware of a world of people also trying to live their lives just outside your personal bubble.
I feel so passionately about living a life that is aware of the multitude of lives trying to share one space that I couldn't possibly put all my thoughts down on the matter. They are plentiful and emotional and significant. What I will elaborate on is how distressing it is to fear the direction our collective societal train is heading. It is easy and common place for people to shirk responsibilities with the reasoning that someone else will be along, eventually, to clean up behind them. Be it literally (why clean the trash off of my table when I'm done eating, that's what this restaurant hires staff for) or otherwise (I'm going to do what I want regardless of how my decision may impact someone else) it is out of control. Admission of mistakes and acknowledgement of wrongdoings are replaced by phrases like, "Oh well, not my problem" or "They'll get over it".
Respect is simple and can manifest in so many ways. No thing is too small to deserve respect: time, belongings, emotions, differing opinions. They all deserve far more effort and attention than we give them.
What may be even more maddening than the act of selfishness itself are the people who accept is as the norm. "Well, that's just how things are now", or "Yes, it is sad but you just have to accept it". We should never accept a blatant lack of respect as any kind of norm. Being respectful and aware of everyone around you, whether they are a friend or relative or complete and total stranger that you may never see again we all deserve to be treated better.
I want to share a story that is a little bit of a stretch for this topic, but stay with me. After several months of belonging to a photography-based hobby forum site I was invited to join a group of members on a day trip out of town. Now, on this trip we made a snap decision to visit a second location for more photography goodness, a decision kindly considered ill-advised considering our lack of planning, the time of day and having way too many people try to enter at once. Things happened (the whole story requires its own post) and we thought we had been caught (you see, access to this location was not exactly legal). The majority of the group hit the ground running as fast as possible for our exit through a small hole in the fence. As fast as possible is a speed that differs greatly person to person, hence my shock and amazement that one person from the group looked over his shoulder, saw my struggle to keep up and deliberately slowed his pace so he could keep stride with me. So I wouldn't be alone. This might not seem like a big deal but we were basically strangers before that day and had we truly been discovered by the law he would have been risking himself to stick with me. You've got to admit it, that's not an action you see very often these days, especially when while participating in the hobby in question it is pretty much an unspoken rule that it's every man for himself and no one would blame you for looking out for Number One. I will never forget his simple action and the impact it made on me. In the midst of chaos, when he could have suffered for his decision, he altered his actions to look out for someone he hardly knew.
Now, wouldn't that be a nice norm?
Thursday, January 5, 2012
As Polar As Politics
In which we discuss things that have to do with girl parts and Big Choices. Be ye warned.
The other night I got suckered into the first couple of minutes of One Born Every Minute, a show on TLC inspired by a teaching hospital about births. Right there in the beginning of the episode was footage of a laboring mother who had no less than half a dozen faces shoved so close to her nether region I'm surprised the reason the baby wasn't coming more quickly was because there simply wasn't enough room to emerge. A moment later during what must have been the height of her pain and already intense effort the educating doctor was forcing all of his weight between chest-compression hands (visualize CPR, one over the other), trying to force the child out. It made me feel like I was watching a body builder squeeze a toothpaste tube as hard and fast as he could to go for a distance record and couldn't have been a better advertisement for having a home birth.
I shared the comment on Facebook in passing, just something I saw and felt like sharing the moment, never imagining the discussion that would commence. Such is the importance of such discussions and sharing of experiences and opinions from both sides of the fence that I wanted to continue it here. Let me first address the very first question that was asked of me: No, that post was not some backwoods way of sharing any exciting news. Clif and I are not counting down to Then There Were Three. Yet...
I turned 30 last month and for the first time experienced a birthday that brought me great anxiety, not because 30 is so old (it's not, I know) but because there were Things I wanted to have done by now, one of which has been tugging on my reproductive strings. Clif and I have been talking about the big B-word and I've been less than silent about voicing my readiness to get on that bandwagon. We still have some things to take care of first, but in the meantime I've had plenty of time to daydream and start thinking about those important decisions that will come along. One of the biggest being hospital vs. home birth.
My exposure to different birthing methods has been both ample and limited. Obviously I've never gone through the experience myself but I have lots of friends and family who have, especially in the last couple of years and have hit just about every check box on the list of ways to have your baby. One family member planned for a natural birth in the hospital and ended up having two c-sections while another has had three children successfully at home (the last I was blessed to be present for). Both (I feel) would say they had great experiences, even if they are on different sides of the fence, and have fabulous, healthy children.
Part of why I analyze and discuss this topic now when I don't have a scheduled reason to is because it's a complicated decision to make with plenty of pluses and minuses on both sides. It's stressful enough to think about without the influence of hormones and a deadline, I like to pretend I'm giving myself a head start. And so I will share my current standing on the topic:
I am a fence rider.
One of my best friends had her first baby a year ago in the hospital. Overall things seemed to go swimmingly for her and the family and getting to visit her gave me an impression of hospital births that I found quite appealing. From my perspective it seemed to be a little bit of a smoother transition into life with a baby. There were nurses and staff on hand to help provide care, infant transportation, and allow the chance for some stolen extra sleep for a night or two. Again, purely my inexperienced interpretation. The other benefit is well wishers can visit my hospital room where I won't have stress and anxiety about the presentability factor of my home should someone wish to visit. At this point Clif would roll his eyes at me and tell me not to worry about how clean or not clean our house is but I'm simply not wired that way and the anxiety of it would case hives. So, another check for hospital.
Another friend who had her baby around the same time, however, shared stories of having to fight with an inept nurse and is to this day still working on recovering some medical issues from her stay at the hospital. Big deduction. Another big deduction: a woman once asked on a birth advice board if there was such a thing as a "manual episiotomy" which initially caused confusion as there is no magic machine that performs the procedure. Her clarification indicated that the "manual" part meant literally by hand. As in two hands and ripping. It's bad enough someone might want to come at me with sharp objects with intent to slice, but for a woman to express that such action NOT be taken and then to have her doctor override her decision not only by doing it but by doing it WITH HIS BARE (gloved) HANDS is terrifying. HUGE deduction. One of my biggest fears is laying out my expectations and what I would and would not want to happen during my birthing experience then have it all ignored or overruled, not being allowed to do what feels right for my body because someone says it should be done another way. Labor and delivery is stressful enough, I wouldn't want to have to also fight for my choices.
My sister had three babies at home with the help of her husband, an aquadoula, an actual doula, a midwife and an assistant. Her first daughter came in a posterior position (in other words face up and not helping) after 72 hours of labor and 5 hours of pushing. If she had been in a hospital I'd keel over from shock if they didn't do whatever they could to get her into surgery. She persisted and accomplished her goal. Check for home birth! On the other hand she persisted for 3 days without any medication. Deduction! I admit I would like to think I could handle that kind of pain but I have my fears and doubts. With a home birth you're also left alone, just two new parents suddenly thrown into figuring out how to make it work. An hour ago: no baby. Now: baby! And, go! A little less transition time is what I'm thinking. I guess there's also a part of me that feels if we try it at home and something goes wrong or I feel like I need more help the hospital is just down the road. Perhaps based on ignorance but feel I it would be easier to get TO the hospital than OUT of it should the decision change before the point of no return or someone comes at me with their ripping hands.
I suppose what I've learned so far is that I have no idea what decision I'll end up making and won't know until it's made and even then nothing is carved in stone. Based on stories, experiences and opinions the bottom line is good and bad can happen anywhere for any reason. What works for some won't work for others and everyone has to make the decision that is best for them, regardless of what was better for someone else. I do feel, however, that it is crucial to be able to talk about it! Everyone who shares their story is providing one more piece of information that can help an uncertain expecting mother make a potentially intimidating decision. That said I invite you all to share your stories, your research, your reasoning. It's all valid and it's all important.
The other night I got suckered into the first couple of minutes of One Born Every Minute, a show on TLC inspired by a teaching hospital about births. Right there in the beginning of the episode was footage of a laboring mother who had no less than half a dozen faces shoved so close to her nether region I'm surprised the reason the baby wasn't coming more quickly was because there simply wasn't enough room to emerge. A moment later during what must have been the height of her pain and already intense effort the educating doctor was forcing all of his weight between chest-compression hands (visualize CPR, one over the other), trying to force the child out. It made me feel like I was watching a body builder squeeze a toothpaste tube as hard and fast as he could to go for a distance record and couldn't have been a better advertisement for having a home birth.
I shared the comment on Facebook in passing, just something I saw and felt like sharing the moment, never imagining the discussion that would commence. Such is the importance of such discussions and sharing of experiences and opinions from both sides of the fence that I wanted to continue it here. Let me first address the very first question that was asked of me: No, that post was not some backwoods way of sharing any exciting news. Clif and I are not counting down to Then There Were Three. Yet...
I turned 30 last month and for the first time experienced a birthday that brought me great anxiety, not because 30 is so old (it's not, I know) but because there were Things I wanted to have done by now, one of which has been tugging on my reproductive strings. Clif and I have been talking about the big B-word and I've been less than silent about voicing my readiness to get on that bandwagon. We still have some things to take care of first, but in the meantime I've had plenty of time to daydream and start thinking about those important decisions that will come along. One of the biggest being hospital vs. home birth.
My exposure to different birthing methods has been both ample and limited. Obviously I've never gone through the experience myself but I have lots of friends and family who have, especially in the last couple of years and have hit just about every check box on the list of ways to have your baby. One family member planned for a natural birth in the hospital and ended up having two c-sections while another has had three children successfully at home (the last I was blessed to be present for). Both (I feel) would say they had great experiences, even if they are on different sides of the fence, and have fabulous, healthy children.
Part of why I analyze and discuss this topic now when I don't have a scheduled reason to is because it's a complicated decision to make with plenty of pluses and minuses on both sides. It's stressful enough to think about without the influence of hormones and a deadline, I like to pretend I'm giving myself a head start. And so I will share my current standing on the topic:
I am a fence rider.
One of my best friends had her first baby a year ago in the hospital. Overall things seemed to go swimmingly for her and the family and getting to visit her gave me an impression of hospital births that I found quite appealing. From my perspective it seemed to be a little bit of a smoother transition into life with a baby. There were nurses and staff on hand to help provide care, infant transportation, and allow the chance for some stolen extra sleep for a night or two. Again, purely my inexperienced interpretation. The other benefit is well wishers can visit my hospital room where I won't have stress and anxiety about the presentability factor of my home should someone wish to visit. At this point Clif would roll his eyes at me and tell me not to worry about how clean or not clean our house is but I'm simply not wired that way and the anxiety of it would case hives. So, another check for hospital.
Another friend who had her baby around the same time, however, shared stories of having to fight with an inept nurse and is to this day still working on recovering some medical issues from her stay at the hospital. Big deduction. Another big deduction: a woman once asked on a birth advice board if there was such a thing as a "manual episiotomy" which initially caused confusion as there is no magic machine that performs the procedure. Her clarification indicated that the "manual" part meant literally by hand. As in two hands and ripping. It's bad enough someone might want to come at me with sharp objects with intent to slice, but for a woman to express that such action NOT be taken and then to have her doctor override her decision not only by doing it but by doing it WITH HIS BARE (gloved) HANDS is terrifying. HUGE deduction. One of my biggest fears is laying out my expectations and what I would and would not want to happen during my birthing experience then have it all ignored or overruled, not being allowed to do what feels right for my body because someone says it should be done another way. Labor and delivery is stressful enough, I wouldn't want to have to also fight for my choices.
My sister had three babies at home with the help of her husband, an aquadoula, an actual doula, a midwife and an assistant. Her first daughter came in a posterior position (in other words face up and not helping) after 72 hours of labor and 5 hours of pushing. If she had been in a hospital I'd keel over from shock if they didn't do whatever they could to get her into surgery. She persisted and accomplished her goal. Check for home birth! On the other hand she persisted for 3 days without any medication. Deduction! I admit I would like to think I could handle that kind of pain but I have my fears and doubts. With a home birth you're also left alone, just two new parents suddenly thrown into figuring out how to make it work. An hour ago: no baby. Now: baby! And, go! A little less transition time is what I'm thinking. I guess there's also a part of me that feels if we try it at home and something goes wrong or I feel like I need more help the hospital is just down the road. Perhaps based on ignorance but feel I it would be easier to get TO the hospital than OUT of it should the decision change before the point of no return or someone comes at me with their ripping hands.
I suppose what I've learned so far is that I have no idea what decision I'll end up making and won't know until it's made and even then nothing is carved in stone. Based on stories, experiences and opinions the bottom line is good and bad can happen anywhere for any reason. What works for some won't work for others and everyone has to make the decision that is best for them, regardless of what was better for someone else. I do feel, however, that it is crucial to be able to talk about it! Everyone who shares their story is providing one more piece of information that can help an uncertain expecting mother make a potentially intimidating decision. That said I invite you all to share your stories, your research, your reasoning. It's all valid and it's all important.
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