1. What happened to Stabbing Westward? I have "What Do I Have to Do" on my MP3 player (from Wither Blister Burn Peel) and they were awesome live when they opened for Depeche Mode at MSG in 1996.
2. I went back to work. Back at the place that let me go in May and I feel as if I just came back from maternity leave. Weird. It is temporary but I already have headaches from program complications. Welcome back me, o masochistic one.
3. How do you instill perspective, self-worth, ambition, and empathy in a 'tween-ager? Life is not over if your Abercrombie t-shirt is a little small from washing it or if you don't have a Coach bag. Also, everything is not obvious and laid out for you. Sometimes you have to dig a little for the answers. Put in some effort if you want something bad enough.
4. Miss South Carolina corrected her answer for the Miss Teen USA Pageant. I liked the first one better.
5. Why have I not seen Velvet Goldmine yet? It has Christian Bale, Ewan McGregor, AND Jonathan Rhys Meyers. I mean, hello! Love them ALL (for their acting skills and artistic choices of course).
6. Honey got me Amedei Chocolates, well, just because. (How sweet!) But then Miranda came running out of my room with a chocolate covered face and said "Mommy, yummy, chocolate"! How do not kill a toddler for eating the world's most expensive chocolate like it was a Hershey bar? Or do I just appreciate the fact that she has good taste and that we are starting her off with VERY high expectations? ACK.
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Monday, August 20, 2007
Happy Birthday Miranda
Happy to you my little stinkerbell, streaker, all-around cutie-pie, and fellow chocolate lover.
How quickly you have grown from 6lbs 11oz to 29lbs of muscle...pure toddler. I love watching you discover new things like kayaks and butterflies to your love of clementines and the Finding Nemo "DVDV". You whisper "Mommy, I hear sound" when a truck goes by. You can imitate the sounds for many animals. You climb the monkey bars like a champ. You "fwing" and "fwim". You jump and skip, and hop. As you run away from me in the park you yell "Mommy, I FAST". You yell at your baby sister to WAKE UP and sneak into your big sister's bed in the morning to watch cartoons with her. You put on crocodile tears and whimper "no kiss, no hug" and push me away when you are determined to figure something out on your own. You call Opa on the phone just to say hi. You try to ride Boba and say "giddee-up". When you play pirates, you close one eye and say "arggh". You burst into songs all on your own with the Silly Hat song from Barney to The Beatles Love Me Do. You still count like King Arthur and everything is green and purple, but you know what is a number and what is a letter and what colors are. You LOVE fire trucks. You had a great time at Sesame Place for your birthday, and danced with Big Bird. You dance to any music. You are potty training very well. You call Annaliese "Anais" and both grandpa's "joe". You read the caterpillar book all by yourself and love to race through what he eats on Saturday. Then you yell "tummyache". You say goodnight to the old lady whispering "hush". You still have a binky and bottle, but not for long. After today, they are history.
My world is better with you in it, my little boo-boo. Happy second birthday.
How quickly you have grown from 6lbs 11oz to 29lbs of muscle...pure toddler. I love watching you discover new things like kayaks and butterflies to your love of clementines and the Finding Nemo "DVDV". You whisper "Mommy, I hear sound" when a truck goes by. You can imitate the sounds for many animals. You climb the monkey bars like a champ. You "fwing" and "fwim". You jump and skip, and hop. As you run away from me in the park you yell "Mommy, I FAST". You yell at your baby sister to WAKE UP and sneak into your big sister's bed in the morning to watch cartoons with her. You put on crocodile tears and whimper "no kiss, no hug" and push me away when you are determined to figure something out on your own. You call Opa on the phone just to say hi. You try to ride Boba and say "giddee-up". When you play pirates, you close one eye and say "arggh". You burst into songs all on your own with the Silly Hat song from Barney to The Beatles Love Me Do. You still count like King Arthur and everything is green and purple, but you know what is a number and what is a letter and what colors are. You LOVE fire trucks. You had a great time at Sesame Place for your birthday, and danced with Big Bird. You dance to any music. You are potty training very well. You call Annaliese "Anais" and both grandpa's "joe". You read the caterpillar book all by yourself and love to race through what he eats on Saturday. Then you yell "tummyache". You say goodnight to the old lady whispering "hush". You still have a binky and bottle, but not for long. After today, they are history.
My world is better with you in it, my little boo-boo. Happy second birthday.
Friday, August 10, 2007
Feeding Newborns
After reading numerous blogs and comments that came up after the decision by NYC Public Hospitals to pull formula samples, I cannot believe how off-topic most of the blogs and comments are, with everyone explaining their situations. Here is where I stand (in case you care).
1. The decision was made by a public assistance corporation that runs 11 hospitals and other community centers, NOT by all NY City or State hospitals.
2. The move is about MONEY, not to personally demonize the women using formula. That is what a lot of the breastfeeding advisors and advocates do. (Disclosure: my advisor at NYU did NOT make me feel guilty for not getting the hang of breastfeeding).
3. The decision does two things: takes away free samples from people on public assistance (ridiculous) and it will reduce the amount of private "unrestricted educational grant" money that the formula companies send to hospitals furthering the betterment of a hospital that could use the funds for enriching staff or updating infrastructure. (I can write another whole post on that).
4. People have posted that the formula companies are evil. I have not read the arguments for or against this. I do wish that formula companies would start to use dehydrated cow's milk from cows free from growth hormones and antibiotics to make formula. I feel that this would make a big difference. Similac just released an"Organic" formula that does this. I know that Good Start makes a "Natural Cultures" formula to help with digestion, but does not use organic milk. I do not use either at the moment, but will try the Similac Organic. Using organic milk to make infant formula should be standard and affordable. I wonder if there will be a clinical trial on precocious pubarche and organic formula. There should be! Sorry to go on a tangent here, but I will post this again.
EDIT: In researching organic formula further, there are other formula manufacturers than Similac, Enfamil, and GoodStart. The issue now is cost. And would the hospitals pull organic formula samples???
5. The main reason for pulling the samples is purely economic in nature-not for the formula companies but for public assistance. As public hospitals are located in poorer sections of the city and their patients usually rely on Medicaid and WIC for themselves and their children, the government doesn't want to pay for formula if it doesn't have to.
I take any samples and formula coupons for the ones I don't use and donate them to a women's home.
What is next, pulling the disposable diaper samples? That is another debate...
1. The decision was made by a public assistance corporation that runs 11 hospitals and other community centers, NOT by all NY City or State hospitals.
2. The move is about MONEY, not to personally demonize the women using formula. That is what a lot of the breastfeeding advisors and advocates do. (Disclosure: my advisor at NYU did NOT make me feel guilty for not getting the hang of breastfeeding).
3. The decision does two things: takes away free samples from people on public assistance (ridiculous) and it will reduce the amount of private "unrestricted educational grant" money that the formula companies send to hospitals furthering the betterment of a hospital that could use the funds for enriching staff or updating infrastructure. (I can write another whole post on that).
4. People have posted that the formula companies are evil. I have not read the arguments for or against this. I do wish that formula companies would start to use dehydrated cow's milk from cows free from growth hormones and antibiotics to make formula. I feel that this would make a big difference. Similac just released an"Organic" formula that does this. I know that Good Start makes a "Natural Cultures" formula to help with digestion, but does not use organic milk. I do not use either at the moment, but will try the Similac Organic. Using organic milk to make infant formula should be standard and affordable. I wonder if there will be a clinical trial on precocious pubarche and organic formula. There should be! Sorry to go on a tangent here, but I will post this again.
EDIT: In researching organic formula further, there are other formula manufacturers than Similac, Enfamil, and GoodStart. The issue now is cost. And would the hospitals pull organic formula samples???
5. The main reason for pulling the samples is purely economic in nature-not for the formula companies but for public assistance. As public hospitals are located in poorer sections of the city and their patients usually rely on Medicaid and WIC for themselves and their children, the government doesn't want to pay for formula if it doesn't have to.
I take any samples and formula coupons for the ones I don't use and donate them to a women's home.
What is next, pulling the disposable diaper samples? That is another debate...
Monday, August 06, 2007
Six Things About Me...
1. I used to race sailboats. I just rediscovered my love for sailing virtually by watching Hard Water on Worldsport HD. I get to relive the knot in the pit of my stomach as the J22 class boats jockey their way for the starting line as well as rounding the mark just barely missing it. I can almost feel the water spraying up as I watch the crew lean over the sides. And the camera work and settings for every regatta are amazing. I only used to crew my aunt and uncle's boat at the Sayville Yacht Club in the Great South Bay on Long Island. But now living right on the Hudson River, I see sailboats (as well as freighters, tankers, The Circle Line, and garbage barges being towed by tug boats) every day. I kinda miss it. You can take the girl off the island, but I will never live far from water.
2. I used to horseback ride. Not formally, but often enough. There was a park by my house that had a stable and we used to ride there a lot (especially the horse named "Nanoo"). My neighbors had horses and they would take the kids from the block around. We also used to feed their chickens and goats. My cousin rode horses competitively and we would go with her until "Niblick" threw me off. And my best friend in high school had a horse that we would ride sometimes. So, it really wasn't a whole lot, but definitely more than a lot of people I know. As soon as the kids are able, I want to go again.
3. I ski black diamond trails. I started skiing when I was 12 at Scotch Valley (then it became Deer Run) in the Catskills. We then skied the rest of the Catskills and then Southern Vermont with my aunt and uncle who had a ski house in Londonderry. We loved Bromley and Stratton, Okemo, and Magic, in the winter and summer. In high school and college I was in the ski club and went to Mt Snow and Killington, Whiteface and Mad River Glen. I have skied all the mountains in the Poconos and the Berkshires. I still prefer Killington and Windham. I have never been to the Rockies. The best part was going with my aunt and uncle and 2 cousins every year the week between Christmas and New Years, never being awake to see the ball drop as we were to exhausted from a fun day. We have the best memories as we would have fun in a paper bag. The stories will be another post.
I started skiing again right before I got pregnant with Miranda. I hadnt gone in over 10 years and my honey insisted that I try snow boarding first. I did, and I hated it. So I stormed back inside the rental shack, switched to skis and felt like I never left. I cannot wait to go again this year and for Miranda to be old enough to go.
4. I wanted to be a dancer when I was little. I took all kinds of lessons right through 9th grade(ballet, tap, jazz, baton) and loved it. I still love to dance but there aren't any 30 and over clubs around and I would feel ridiculous with the little bippies shaking booty to some crap music.
5. I am a sucker for any movies that have elaborate costumes or interesting editing or are a musical. My favorite movies are action films.
6. I used to read 26 books a year when I had a 2+ hour commute. Now with an infant and toddler and no commute, I rarely have time and I miss it. I have to finish reading Thomas Cahill's Sailing The Wine-Dark Sea.
2. I used to horseback ride. Not formally, but often enough. There was a park by my house that had a stable and we used to ride there a lot (especially the horse named "Nanoo"). My neighbors had horses and they would take the kids from the block around. We also used to feed their chickens and goats. My cousin rode horses competitively and we would go with her until "Niblick" threw me off. And my best friend in high school had a horse that we would ride sometimes. So, it really wasn't a whole lot, but definitely more than a lot of people I know. As soon as the kids are able, I want to go again.
3. I ski black diamond trails. I started skiing when I was 12 at Scotch Valley (then it became Deer Run) in the Catskills. We then skied the rest of the Catskills and then Southern Vermont with my aunt and uncle who had a ski house in Londonderry. We loved Bromley and Stratton, Okemo, and Magic, in the winter and summer. In high school and college I was in the ski club and went to Mt Snow and Killington, Whiteface and Mad River Glen. I have skied all the mountains in the Poconos and the Berkshires. I still prefer Killington and Windham. I have never been to the Rockies. The best part was going with my aunt and uncle and 2 cousins every year the week between Christmas and New Years, never being awake to see the ball drop as we were to exhausted from a fun day. We have the best memories as we would have fun in a paper bag. The stories will be another post.
I started skiing again right before I got pregnant with Miranda. I hadnt gone in over 10 years and my honey insisted that I try snow boarding first. I did, and I hated it. So I stormed back inside the rental shack, switched to skis and felt like I never left. I cannot wait to go again this year and for Miranda to be old enough to go.
4. I wanted to be a dancer when I was little. I took all kinds of lessons right through 9th grade(ballet, tap, jazz, baton) and loved it. I still love to dance but there aren't any 30 and over clubs around and I would feel ridiculous with the little bippies shaking booty to some crap music.
5. I am a sucker for any movies that have elaborate costumes or interesting editing or are a musical. My favorite movies are action films.
6. I used to read 26 books a year when I had a 2+ hour commute. Now with an infant and toddler and no commute, I rarely have time and I miss it. I have to finish reading Thomas Cahill's Sailing The Wine-Dark Sea.
Thursday, August 02, 2007
Dream #2 Fulfilled
When I was 13, a friend of mine had an extra ticket to see The Police on their Synchronicity tour at Madison Square Garden. I BEGGED my parents to let me go as I was already a full-fledged fan after hearing Zenyatta Mondatta in 1980. They would not budge citing that I was too young, yadda, yadda...all the things a 13 just doesn't want to hear. So, I didn't go.
After the show, they broke up.
Words cannot describe the saddness and disappointment that I felt.
Well, 24 years later, I FINALLY got to see Sting, Stewart, and Andy together again at Rentschler Field in Hartford, CT.
Again, words cannot describe how much emotion I felt. I actually teared up when they started the first song. I danced and sang along to almost every song (how can people sit down at shows? I just don't understand.). And I screamed my head off. I recorded Roxanne on my cell phone. It was awesome (but WHY did they play Walking in Your Footsteps?).
I don't have to see another concert as long as I live. I started in 1984 with Cindy Lauper (my cousin and I actually tried to DRESS like her, ick), MANY shows at Jones Beach (10,000 Maniacs, Sarah McLaughlin, Live, Stevie Nicks, Don Henley, Tina Turner, Powerstation, Arcadia, Heart, Wang Chung, Yes, Chicago...I can't even remember them all, some in lightning storms), then continued with The Eagles reunited, Pink Floyd at Yankee Stadium, The Who at Giants Stadium, The Fixx in Sag Harbor, The Grateful Dead at Highgate, Vermont right before Jerry died (pushing my car along to save gas in horrific traffic and driving thru CANADA to get home), experiencing both Woodstock '94 and '99 (that could be it's own post), Paul McCartney with my parents, The Allman Brothers (I only remember the first song after doing shots right before the show then ended with puking on my friend's shoes-does it still count?) Jimmy Page and Robert Plant, Billy Joel and Elton John (separate and together) , The Tragically Hip (three times) in small venues, Nine Inch Nails (Three times), Phish at Plattsburgh Air Force Base for Clifford Ball , U2 (twice), Sting every time he toured, Harry Connick Jr, Barry Manilow, Duran Duran reunited (dream #1) and others (I will not list the 80's hair bands). After over 100 shows, my concert career has come full circle.
After the show, they broke up.
Words cannot describe the saddness and disappointment that I felt.
Well, 24 years later, I FINALLY got to see Sting, Stewart, and Andy together again at Rentschler Field in Hartford, CT.
Again, words cannot describe how much emotion I felt. I actually teared up when they started the first song. I danced and sang along to almost every song (how can people sit down at shows? I just don't understand.). And I screamed my head off. I recorded Roxanne on my cell phone. It was awesome (but WHY did they play Walking in Your Footsteps?).
I don't have to see another concert as long as I live. I started in 1984 with Cindy Lauper (my cousin and I actually tried to DRESS like her, ick), MANY shows at Jones Beach (10,000 Maniacs, Sarah McLaughlin, Live, Stevie Nicks, Don Henley, Tina Turner, Powerstation, Arcadia, Heart, Wang Chung, Yes, Chicago...I can't even remember them all, some in lightning storms), then continued with The Eagles reunited, Pink Floyd at Yankee Stadium, The Who at Giants Stadium, The Fixx in Sag Harbor, The Grateful Dead at Highgate, Vermont right before Jerry died (pushing my car along to save gas in horrific traffic and driving thru CANADA to get home), experiencing both Woodstock '94 and '99 (that could be it's own post), Paul McCartney with my parents, The Allman Brothers (I only remember the first song after doing shots right before the show then ended with puking on my friend's shoes-does it still count?) Jimmy Page and Robert Plant, Billy Joel and Elton John (separate and together) , The Tragically Hip (three times) in small venues, Nine Inch Nails (Three times), Phish at Plattsburgh Air Force Base for Clifford Ball , U2 (twice), Sting every time he toured, Harry Connick Jr, Barry Manilow, Duran Duran reunited (dream #1) and others (I will not list the 80's hair bands). After over 100 shows, my concert career has come full circle.
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