things i can't stand right now

1. When people use the word Calvary for cavalry. Calvary is the place where Christ was crucified. Cavalry refers to a group of soldiers (specifically ones on horseback). Get is straight, people. "Call in the calvary" makes no sense.

Oh, and Calgary is a city in Canada.

2. When people say they "could care less." If you could care less, then you actually care a little bit. The phrase is that you "couldn't care less." Meaning it's not possible for you to care any less. Couldn't.

3. This:

It really makes me anxious inside when I have no blogs to check and no new email to read. I think I have a problem.

4. Big chunks of chicken. This has grossed me out since I was pregnant with Graham. Nothing sounds worse than eating a big slab of chicken breast. It has to be well-masked in some sort of overpowering sauce. But if that's the case, I figure I might as well just leave the chicken out entirely.

5. Other people watching TV in my apartment when I don't want it on. I know--I'm terrible. But I like it quiet. I don't need background noise. For example, I spent 4 hours in the kitchen on Saturday evening (making dinner, making bread, making rolls, making sauces and roasting veggies for subsequent meals), and Richard watched movies back to back for the entire 4 hours (and then some--I went to bed). I thought my head was going to explode. Last night he was looking up movies on Netflix, and I flat out said no. No way. Not on my one night at home. Not 'til I'm asleep.

6. Long lists of things that people can't stand. Ha! But really, I think I need to follow up this post with a list of things I love.

monday sentiments

Dear stretch of El Camino near Page Mill and California Ave,

You are the bain of my existence. Once my night job ends I will try to take the train more often in order to avoid you. I will not miss you.



Dear Lake Tahoe,

I will see you this weekend! But why, oh, why are you snowing? Not cool, Tahoe. Not cool at all.



Dear See Jane Run half marathon,

For the second year in a row, I paid your race fees but will not be running across your finish line. You're making a killing off of me!



Dear Graham,

You are the cutest thing in the world. Seriously.



Dear neighbors a few doors down,

You're totally drug dealers. Don't deny it. But perhaps you shouldn't spend so much time on your porch since it's obvious you're making plenty of money without ever going to a job. PS--It's ridiculous that your 4-year-old has such a potty mouth.



Dear Christian,

You look hot in your soccer uniform.



Dear bed,

It's just you and me until Christian gets home from his game. I think I'll live it up and sleep diagonally. You know--take up as much space as I can. Yeah, that sounds nice.

all about graham

Special request from Amy. And a few videos for Ryan.

Graham is the best baby ever! He says to tell all the mamas out there that they should be jealous. Hey, I didn't say it. He did.

At almost 7 months old, Little G...

Sits all by himself now. Perhaps his huge cloth diaper helps prop him up.

Loves to watch us stack things up so that he can knock them down. Sometimes he uses his hands. Sometimes he uses his head.


Favorite songs are "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" and "Monkeys Jumping on the Bed."

Uses a little cough to fake laugh. We love it.


Doesn't exactly babble. It's more like growling and squealing. Our little monster.

Is FINALLY learning how to swallow food. Favorite? Gerber Carrots.


Loves to chew on a toothbrush.

Gets to hang out with Charlie and Max whenever Grandma Chris watches him. I'm pretty sure he wants to be just like them when he grows up.

Can get up on his hands and knees and rock back and forth. We're pretty sure the crawling will start soon.



Scoots backwards and rotates in circles on the floor.

Flirts with girls 16 years his senior. Is clueless around girls his age.

Thinks he can move forward if he pretends he's Superman flying on the floor. It never works.


Drives his dad crazy when he refuses to take a nap.

Has slept thru the night 3 times now. 7pm to 7am.

Hangs out in his crib happily playing with his pacifier when he wakes up in the morning, so we're never sure exactly how long he has been up before we hear him complaining.


Likes when I hold him up high so he can swat at the skulls on his mobile.

Is getting quite good at blowing snot bubbles. Snots, snots, everywhere.

Has learned how to bang on the piano keys. Next up: Mozart.

Drinks Mexican coca-cola by the bottle. Okay, not really.

do you miss me?

It has been over a week since I last posted. What is happening to me?

Let me explain. I'm worn out. I'm not fishing for "poor Molly" comments, rather pointing out what has been a long time coming. Besides, it was my choice to do all these things. Sometimes it's just nice to put things on paper (computer screen?) for your own sanity.

{Side note: this is only about me. Christian has been working and going to school for years and I'm sure he's quite worn out, too. But since I can't talk for him, I'll talk for myself.}

2004: Got married. Working full time. Making dinner for the family we lived with 3 nights a week. Christian did the bulk of the dinner making, but it still made us unavailable on weeknights.

2005: Life continued as usual. Work, dinners on weeknights.

2005 (September): I started a Master's program two nights a week. Still working full time. Still helping make dinners for the family when I was available.

2006: Work, class, dinners.

2007: Work, class, dinners. Moved in June, which alleviated us of the dinner-making tasks. Felt good.

2007 (December): Started substitute-teaching an ESL class on the nights I didn't have MA classes.

2008: Work, class, subbing.

2008 (March): Started teaching my own ESL class one night a week while still working and attending MA classes.

2008 (May): Graduated from my MA program. Hallelujah.

2008 (September): Started teaching ESL 3 nights a week after work.

2009: Work, teach 3 nights a week.

2009 (October): Had a baby!! Just for the record, this baby has yet to make me tired. You may not believe that, but it's true.

2009 (September) thru 2010 (January): 4 months of maternity leave. Best vacation ever. EVER.

2010: Work, teach 3 nights a week, miss baby at home.

What does this all mean? It means that for 6 years I have been turning down weeknight activities. For 6 years I have been sending the same auto-response "Sorry I can't make it, but be sure to invite me next time!"

I'm worn out. I'm done.

And do you know what? I've come to the sad realization that I don't even care anymore. It doesn't bother me that I never see my friends. Is that bad? It doesn't bother me that girls I know go on fun girls' weekends or get together for dinner. I never see them otherwise (and certainly never do any inviting myself) so it makes perfect sense to me to see everyone hanging out in the real world without me. And I'm not being sarcastic or having a pity party. It really doesn't bother me. And that's what's strange. It used to make me sad. Now I'm just so used to it. And not being home all week makes me just want to stay home all weekend and never leave.

So three more weeks until my glorious summer starts. Every year I get a summer vacation from everything evening-related. (The day job sticks around, unfortunately.)

What am I going to do with all my free nights? Nothing. Nothing, nothing, nothing. I'll probably eat ice cream. Maybe Christian and I will take Graham to the park and watch all the people and squirrels until his bedtime. Maybe I'll come up with interesting things to write on my blog. And maybe I'll go to bed at 8 o'clock every night. And then I won't be so worn out.

Yes, that sounds nice.

Thanks, blog post. I feel better now.

vanity

Like mother/father, like son.

Christian sent me this picture just now. He put a mirror in front of Graham today, which has kept little G quite entertained. Who wouldn't want to stare at that face? I guess Graham can't resist either.

bringing back fashion trends

I really think we should bring back this fashion trend. I mean, seriously, how good would my husband's legs look in those tights? You would all be jealous your husbands didn't look that good.


{Photo of the Prince of Wales 1610 from wikimedia commons}