It's interesting that in books the villain almost always speaks perfect English. Is it because the person doing the speaking means to give off an aura of superiority and likes to boast his intelligence? (This has nothing to do with Nikki's post nor the comments that ensued, trust me.)

Went to the doctor's yesterday for a regular pregnancy checkup and after making me drink some nasty glucose syrup we listened to the baby's heartbeat, he measured me, and then he told me I have a "slight hernia." He asked if my belly button always stuck out like that while he pushed his finger in. It's always been a partial outtie, I told him. He then asked me if I was getting my tubes tied cause they could repair it at the same time. HA! I told him the same thing I told my husband - that I'm willing to have more but if hubby is done then he needs to do something about it.

Of course, when I finally got to work I looked it up. If I really have one it's an umbilical hernia. They don't get better, only worse, and have to be repaired with surgery. Now I'm paranoid that I'll laugh too hard or sneeze and my intestines will come out. lol. Gross thought, I know, sorry.

Cooking

I've never been one to cook. My mother always only wanted me to focus on schoolwork so I was never forced to stay in the kitchen. Fortunately, hubby is an awesome cook always willing to experiment and his food much more often than not comes out very good. I, on the other hand, don't like to experiment cause the food never comes out the way I envision. And heaven forbid anyone try to give me any tips while I'm in the kitchen. That just adds to my stress and the food comes out even worse. Because of this I've never been inclined to try, but lately my co-worker has had my mouth watering. She very recently started cooking and every day we talk about what she made the night before. She's so excited because she's actually liking what she's making and the foods she chooses rarely take more than an hour to prepare and cook. If she can do it maybe I should try. It couldn't hurt. Not really.

It's a blessing that we've made it (happily) through five years of marriage. So many marriages barely make it past the second year. I never had a doubt that we would make it this far but it can make a girl nervous when she hears of couples "growing apart" and divorcing after 20-30+ years. On the flip side, it is quite encouraging to attend 50th anniversary parties. Saturday was our actual anniversary. After church in the evening we dropped the kids at their grandparents' house while we went to J. Alexander's for dinner. I suppose we could have picked them up afterward, but why? Instead we went home, I put on a cute little outfit to waddle around in and we chilled watching tv. The next morning was (you guessed it) pancakes at Grand Lux. Uneventful, I know, but quiet and kidless - a respite from the daily grind.

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The boy and the girl are the same. The oldest boy is still in TN. Since he turned 16 last week he's trying to secure a summer job. Won't he be surprised to hear he won't be keeping all the money he'll be making. The girl is still acting up at home yet she was 'rewarded' with being allowed to go on a trip next Sunday to the Orlando area. Hmm. nyabg asked when it all started with her. I don't know when it started but from I've known her I've seen signs - I've seen her switch. Asking her about her behavior always results in a blank stare and sometimes monosyllabic responses. SP suggested I read some books on being bi-racial because maybe she doesn't know where to fit in. Ok, well I've started reading Rebecca Walker's autobiography, "Black White and Jewish" just in case it gives me a much-needed insight.

Shawn asked if there was any meaning to how I reference my husband's children. Could be, but I usually refer to my own son the same way when I say things like, "I have to go pick up the boy from school."

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Thank you to everyone who commented on my brow post, esp. to those guys who said they looked fine before being done. :)

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So, lets get this straight, on my father's side there are four brothers and a sister, only one of whom I've met. One brother is Mocha's dad, another brother is A's dad, a third brother (the one I've met) has children I've never been able to see in person. The sister lives in Jamaica. I got her address not too long ago but have finally sent her a letter this past Friday. I don't know what she'll make of it. I'm sure it will be a surprise - hopefully a pleasant one. Maybe she'll even write back.

Sort of Peer Pressure

Update: Do-it-yourself threading info here. Trust me, you really wouldn't want to do it yourself cause until you're proficient it hurts. But at least you can get an idea of the process. Here is one lady's experience.

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I got my virgin eyebrows threaded today at lunch. In the past 32 years I've never waxhed, trimmed, or noticeably plucked my eyebrows. My husband and son have near-perfect eyebrows which I don't think is fair so when my co-worker said she was going to get hers touched up today I agreed to go with her. I had gone before but only watched. Today, I sat through my teary-eyes and almost clenched fists while the lady worked on me. It wasn't too painful to bear but I did wonder what I was really doing there sitting in that chair. Here are a couple of before and after pix. I'm sure you will agree the new brows are an improvement over the au naturel look, although the polished look will take some getting used to.

The original that was me this morning.


I hardly recognize myself now!

I never thought I would feel protective of my husband with respect to his own children. I mean, really!

The one boy has the nerve to say in his father's presence that his absentee mother is his best friend next to God. Ok, I understand the phenomenon where kids hate the parents they're living with and the one who's not around is perceived as the 'good' one. I can almost live with that despite the fact that I don't like it.

Then there's the girl who is a habitual liar for reasons unbeknownst to me. On the one hand, when she's with us, she makes out her mother to be the monster but when she's there she portrays her father as mean and restrictive. Which, he's never mean to her, but he does enforce rules of cleanliness and proper conduct. He can say one word to her and she'll do things her mother can't get her to do with any amount of yelling. Anyway, last weekend was the girl's birthday weekend. Her father never heard from her. We both called and left messages, emailed, went and knocked on the house door sat & sun nights. You can imagine his concern when no one was able to contact anyone in the household, and esp. consider the fact that every weekend (at least for the six years I've been in their lives) the girl comes over to our house. If she can't make it for whatever reason she always calls or she tells us when we call to arrange to pick her up. This past weekend was inexplicable. And when I found out the extent of her lying and manipulativeness I got so angry. When we finally reached her (about 8 pm last night) K drove over to her house ready to confront her mother only to find out her mother was not the problem. It's too much to get into in one post but just saying that the girl erased the messages left on her mother's voicemail gives you a clue.

It's been four weeks since SP turned in her resignation. I almost can't believe that her last day has come already. It seems quick to me but I'm sure to her it dragged out much too long. But regardless, it's here, and soon she'll be free. I hope she keeps us updated as she goes through the next transitional year of her life.

And speaking of time flying, I guess I'm nearing the six-month mark. I'm really starting to waddle now. With Sid I didn't have any aches or pains but with this one, sheesh, I can barely use my legs. Is it because this pregnancy was bound to be different, or, as SP enjoyed reminding me, is it because I'm older?

Interesting Meme

Got this one from nyabg.

List up to ten (10) things you want to say to ten (10) different people. Do not state who these people are. Do not confirm or deny any "comment speculation."

1. I wish you knew how beautiful you are and believed in yourself more.


2. Grow up and be a real mother to your daughter. She should be your priority, not whatever man happens to be living at your house. Your pre-teen daughter is not your shoulder to cry on. Get a life and meet some decent people.


3. I have really enjoyed working here but fortunately I don't have to work anymore so here is my letter of resignation.


4. You're such a b*tch.


5. I love you. I need you.


6. I love you. I hope you never forget me.


7. We seem so different. I wonder how close we would have been.


8. I miss what we had.


9. I am so glad you don't live anywhere near me. At least I stay out of trouble.


10. There's so much I wish I could tell you and talk to you about. I wish you were a part of my new family. You would have loved Sid and he would have been crazy about you. I miss you.