Social Media

With all of the social media outlets, I'm having difficulty keeping up with it all. Facebook seems to monopolize my time the most, and once I'm "caught up" over there I rarely update this site which is most important to me of all my internet social haunts. After all, I've met a lot of really great bloggers out there through this site - writing is our thing in common. And I think I write for them, mostly. Because they don't really know me, so I can let it all hang out, right? But like most bloggers I've gotten to the point where needing to censor myself has become a real issue. Man would I like to jot down the things that are REALLY rolling around in my head. But then I might get in trouble for not being private or being too naughty or hurtful, which I don't want to do either. So what stories does that leave me with? It's a difficult balance, internet.

Take this post before I delivered our precious daughter, Sophia Vera, for example. It was the makings of something worth posting. But I got side tracked:

Early on in my pregnancy my dear friend Kimmy called me "Pumpkin Pelvis"... and I can't really remember what this meant, or why it was funny, but it summarizes perfectly how I feel today. Today I am only a few weeks away from my official due date, and absolutely feel like my innards are preparing to make way for a pumpkin. Most everyone that sees me regularly can attest that I've been a very good preggers lady, I haven't complained or thrown things at people when I'm asked the same questions over and over again AT ALL. "When are you due again? Are you having a boy or a girl? Ooooh, it's going to be a surprise?!! Why did you decide to do that? Do you have any names picked out? What hospital will you be at?..."  But now, fair internet, I'm making my first complaint very clear. I'd very much prefer to not be preggers anymore. My bones ache, I'm tired, and have a hard time walking or standing for long periods of time.

So, with the birth of my new little Sophia, I'd really like to make it my mission to post more often. I don't want to turn this site in to a "mommy blog", but I do want to post little tid-bits of my life that I think are fun to share.

Hopefully I'll find the balance between not wanting to be private, and not wanting to be a total ass. Have any of you bloggers figured this out? What's the secret?

Obama Explains His Healthcare Plan in 4 Minutes

Paint Can

[Patting myself on back] I am very good at painting. I'm also a very neat painter, meaning I leave very little splotches and oops marks in unwelcome places. This is mostly because of a specific brush that I buy with a rubber handle that makes cutting a breeze. Mentioning these things is important because I've spent the last few weeks painting. Painting the nursery, master bathroom, and the "main living room" which was a super chore - since the 18 foot ceiling in our living room has walls that seep into the upstairs hallway, staircase leading to the second floor, and foyer. Have I mentioned that my Kiwi kicked some major painting booty reaching those high places? We instantly transform into painting gods with our 16 foot ladders and paint roller extension rods. So imagine my joy, and then frustration, when I find a leftover can of paint from the previous owners that is the exact white gloss that I need to touch up some trim work around the house. Yep, this nesting instinct has me running around in little painting tornadoes. I just a second ago painted around dingy door handles. Yes mom, first I scrubbed the dingy areas clean and then I painted. SOMEONE HELP ME. The frustrating part came after trying to close the paint can back up. Messy people should not be allowed near paint cans. The OCD in me looks at all the drip marks on the side of the can and globs of dried up paint in the lid -- I just hammered the $hit outta that lid to force it in place with no such luck. How am I supposed to keep this perfect bucket full of white gloss from drying up, for crying out loud?

Aside from painting, we've been busy little bees replacing all of the brass light fixtures, brass cabinet door knobs, and white switch plates to a brushed silver look. This whole process started when we found a pack of 7 energy efficient light bulbs for $10 at Lowe's, AND each box came with a $10 coupon on our next purchase! So we bought enough energy efficient light bulbs to light our entire neighborhood and I've been happily using the coupons on... you guessed it... PAINT.

Paulo Coelho

Paulo Coelho is the author of one of my favorite books, "The Alchemist", and friend to Doctor Arash who tried to save Neda in Iran. Neda died in his arms. To read the urgency in Paulo and Arash's email communications is incredibly surreal. I sit here in my safe office, and the most troubling thing on my mind is the pile of laundry at home. Half a world away, people die trying to demonstrate for freedoms that seem so simple here. I realize my observation about how lucky we are in the States to be free isn't unique. But doesn't a blog post like Paulo's reach out to us in a way that traditional news reports are lacking? The emotion, concern, and worry between friends for each other's safety is heartbreaking.

What can I do besides pray for something as cliche as world peace?