Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Thanksgiving Thoughts
Greetings, strangers.I don't know why it takes me so long to come and post something for you. I suppose it's because there's not much going on right now and with Facebook and Twitter, I feel there's nothing left to talk about.
Sorry to abandon you like that.
Thanksgiving is tomorrow and after having two sick people on my hands (Claire Bear has a heinous head cold that has involved more snot than I care to discuss - and she shared it with Huz), we are hoping for a lovely holiday meal with friends. We're hosting again this year and having 2 other couples over, for a total of 6 adults and 2 toddlers. Huz is making the turkey again this year, but he's departing from his usual apple cider brined bird to a bacon-wrapped turkey. Doesn't it look like a crustacean? I hope it's as good as it sounds. The bacon theme will continue when one couple brings some bacon-infused bourbon (ala Nashville's best new bar) for pre-dinner cocktails, along with some veggie dishes. I will be making mashed potatoes and a vegan pumpkin pie (so that Claire Bear can have it). And our other friends will bring dressing, mac and cheese, and wine. It is sounding like quite a feast to be had and I'm very much looking forward to it. So, go away head colds!
It was this time last year that I got diagnosed with thyroid cancer and my world was rocked. I am so very grateful to be past that and to, prayerfully, be free from the Big C. Life certainly goes on, doesn't it? I have a lovely, active, intelligent 2 year old and a loving, dedicated, devoted husband of (almost) 15 years(!!). I am very thankful.
I hope that you all have a wonderful holiday and that you are surrounded with friends, family, love, laughter, and good food. |
Friday, November 13, 2009
Friday the 13th and a Bunch of Random Updates
Last night's fright fits in well with today's date.After a normal day of work for me, writing for Huz, and daycare for Claire, we came home and did the usual eating, bathing, putting Claire to bed routine. Huz graciously went out and bought me some fried chicken and him some pork shoulder from a local southern soul restaurant since neither of us felt like cooking. We ate while watching all of our Thursday night shows - Fast Forward, The Office, Parks and Recreation, and 30 Rock. We settled into bed around 11:00 and as soon as my head hit the pillow Claire started to cry. It had a different quality to it (yes, new parents, you really will start to hear that your child's cries are different), so instead of giving her 10 minutes, I went in to check on her. I'm glad I did. Her face, hands, and blanket were covered in blood. Red, red blood. Claire's blood. I have never seen her blood before and I don't want to see it again. She got her first bloody nose and it looked like it was a lot and had been bleeding for a while. Trying to stay calm, we picked her up and quickly cleaned her and her bedding. The bleeding stopped, I sat cuddled in blankets with her, gave her some rice milk and put her back to bed. I couldn't sleep until midnight. And then she cried again at 4:00a.m. with another bloody nose.
My poor baby. We don't know if it's because of the weather changing and the forced air heat blowing and drying her out, or if she picked her nose in her sleep....ideas? How to fix it? I hate her humidifier because it gets the hard woods all wet (even with towels) and makes her room feel like a swamp.
In other news, Huz is back from his 5 day trip to Montreal where he had a good conference AND a good job interview. Wish us luck as we wait to hear if he qualifies for a second interview. It would be amazing to live in a world class city in Quebec! We'd have to learn French and a new culture and our little girl would be bilingual. A.W.E.S.O.M.E. We are trying not to get excited, but it's hard not to enjoy the idea of it all.
Remember that cancer grant I applied for a while back? Well, turns out they had a record number of applicants this year and, due to low contributions from donors, were only able to fund 10% of those applicants. While it isn't the entire $4,000 that I owe, they did award me $500 to help with bills a bit. And I'm grateful. Especially considering that only 10% were helped. I'm glad I spent the time writing my essay reflecting on the cancer experience - even if I hadn't won any money it was a good way for me to process my feelings about the disease and how it affected me.
I haven't posted in a while, so I can tell you that the opening night of my first photo show was amazing. It was during Art Crawl, which brings hundreds out to see art in a heavy galleried part of downtown. There were tons of people, lots of free wine, lots of art vendors outside, traveling musicians, and a carnival kind of atmosphere. It was a great, vibrant part of Nashville I just discovered and I now want to have date night on the first Saturday of the month from now on so that I can participate in this atmosphere of fun, art-loving people! I had 20 or so medical students come to support me, as well as friends and church buddies. Even though Huz was away, I felt very supported and loved. I also sold one print! It was to a friend, but still, I sold a print! :) The show goes for two more weekends so I hope that I get a chance to sell at least one more, but if not it's okay. Having the opportunity to have some of my work hanging on a wall and seeing people come up to them and discuss them made me so fulfilled. Thank you, Nashville, for this experience! If we move away to Canada, or somewhere else, I hope that I can find such a welcoming, artistic niche like this little city has to offer.
Happy Friday the 13th everybody!
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Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Because I Have No Shame
Enjoy the bloopers. ;)|
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Weekend Update
What a lovely thing fall is. It is truly my favorite season, What with the crisp, refreshing air and the vibrant hues of orange (or, as Claire would say, "erng") and yellow awakening my eyes.Claire and I had a great day on Saturday when we went to a local fall festival with her best buddy Mya. She jumped in her first bouncy castle (but only because I was with her and the guy let her keep her shoes on - girlfriend pitches a fit if you ask her take her shoes off), she walked her first cake walk, and watched kids get their faces painted with great interest. We ate hot dogs together and she even wore an adorable Halloween shirt that her Mo Mo sent her for her birthday. That was our Halloween. I'm not a scrooge, but there was no trick or treating for us because she doesn't eat candy yet, she has dairy allergies (no chocolate), she goes to bed early, and she doesn't like to wear anything new (just getting the Halloween shirt on her was a mighty battle). We'll do it next year.
My first photography show opens this weekend. I'm giddy and nervous at the same time, but also proud: proud that I made myself join a photography club (which was scary and took me forever to do), proud that I spent many hours editing and resizing the photos I selected, proud that when the prints came in the mail they looked huge and awesome (I had only seen them on screen, never on paper). This is a big step for me and I honestly don't care if I sell a single print, but if I do sell just one I'll feel validated that I can actually make art. That other people like. And that? That would be amazing.
I wish you all could come and be there with me. Thank you for your online cheer leading! It means a lot.
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