Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Regular

If there is one thing that pregnancy has made me, it would be regular. I know, I know, I really really need to learn when a topic becomes too personal but in my mind this is not personal as much as it is just really interesting.

Pre-pregnancy I used the bathroom once every couple of days. I mean, I obviously peeed on a daily basis - that would be disturbing - but often times it would be a few days before anything else really happened down there. Then suddenly I get pregnant and I am pooping every single day. Sometimes twice a day.

It's really refreshing to not be worried about bowel problems

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Secret

Me: Ok. So I have a secret to tell you.
Martin: What's that?
Me: I had a roast beef sub for lunch yesterday.
Martin: (chuckles) I don't care.
Me: I mean. I wouldn't have. But I think it's fine. It's only a recommendation not to eat lunch meat when you're pregnant and there really wasn't many other options.
Martin: I'm sure it's fine. It's not like you're smoking or drinking or something proven to do harm to a baby. If the baby's head comes out crooked though, I'm going to blame it on that one time you ate lunch meat.
Me: It was soooo good too. It was roast beef with lettuce and tomatoe and onion and banana peppers and hot pepper relish and mayonnaise.
Martin: Sounds like you had the feast of a lifetime.

Monday, June 28, 2010

Figuring It Out

Conversation between one of my store managers and one of my cashiers.

Cashier: So, is Jenna expecting?
Store Manager: Yeah, you hadn't heard that yet?
Cashier : Ohhhhhh, ok good. I was going to say something to her, but I was really worried that maybe she was just getting a substantial beer gut.

Sunday, June 27, 2010

Synapses

When I was driving back to Trumansburg last Sunday after a weekend at home filled with concert-going, a wedding, and father's day. The weather was absolutely perfect. The clouds were perfect and I really felt like I should take a picture of it. Even if taking pictures while driving isn't considered "safe".

Anyway, whenever I see really perfect clouds like this on a blue sky I was think.....Simpsons. I'm not really sure why. I wasn't even allowed to watch the Simpsons growing up, but I know they have a perfect sky with nice clouds in the intro and somehow whenever I see a nice sky, my synapses almost immediately lead to The Simpsons.

Is that weird?

Saturday, June 26, 2010

Role Reversal

Ranatta, Judy and Kristin. Without these girls, I don't think my life would be complete. I mean, I certaintly wouldn't enjoy living out in the fingerlakes without these girls to keep me company.


But until recently, our relationship has worked in pretty much the same way. I always call them. They never call me. Judy actually tried to argue this with me a couple of weeks ago, but after looking through her call log, the time when she called me was actually 8 minutes after a missed call from me. I am not sure why this happens, probably for a couple of reasons among them that I am controlling, dominating and well, basically a bitch.

Recently, however, things have been really hectic for me at work and I haven't really had a chance to call them in the middle of the day and say, Hey, I was going to stop and grab lunch, want to meet me? Or call them at all for that matter. Therefore, they have been calling me. And they make a point to remind me that they are the ones placing the initial call on each occasion. And even though this takes me out of the controlling and planning role I normally assume, I'm glad they do - otherwise I'd miss out on a lot of fun times.

Friday, June 25, 2010

Confession

I know I have now posted an obscene amount of posts about the Braid Paisley concert, but I wouldn't really touch on the night if I didn't write about this one little part. I mean. The concert was great. Justin Moore. Then Darius Rucker. Then Brad Paisley. Brad Paisley sang a lot and then Allison freakin Krause suddenly appeared on the stage to sing a duet with him. So that was pretty cool too.
Pretty much, it would seem as if the night was completely amazing. Except for this one itsy bitsy thing. I was sober. And as I was standing there sober watching all the drunks around me laugh and dance and have a merry time, I couldn't help but think, oh my god, I am never going to have fun again. And I kept thinking it. I couldn't get it out of my head. I had to say I was going to the bathroom and then go sit by myself way in the back by the fence to clear my head and then go back when I thought my head was clear. But I was wrong. Because it wasn't and I got back to the middle of the dancing drunks and it was back again oh my god, no one is ever going to want to dance with me again. oh my god, everyone wants me to hold their shit. I haven't even had this baby yet and they already think I'm a mother. And I started crying. Not sobbing. Not super noticable. But crying, just the same. Because really, will I ever have fun again? I mean, I'm sure I will, but for some reason as everyone around me was being spun around and dipped and flipped. I wanted to join in on the fun.

Thursday, June 24, 2010

And He Knows All

When we first arrived at the concert, the gates were already open and people were headed into the show. We were late, obviously and just starting to tailgate. Gabe kept going out and then bringing back friends who would quickly leave to move on to the concert. For a couple of minutes there it was like he was an overeager puppy who wanted to show us his most recent catch.

Then, when we got in the concert gates, Gabe proceeded to see approximately 125 people he knew within 3 minutes. And they all wanted to be in a picture with him.

It was sort of like walking in with a celebrity.

A celebrity that I happen to be related to.

In a round about way, you could consider me a celebrity.

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Holding On For Dear Life

When we got into the concert on Friday night, it was crowded. Gabe was really afraid we were going to lose each other so he had us all hold hands for a brief period of time. He strategically put himself and Martin on the ends so "It would look less weird"
I tried to get a picture of the ridiculous of us, but it was really difficult to work a camera with Caton on my left hand and Martin on my right.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Recreation

When Martin and I got married, I don't think we could have picked a better maid of honor and best man. I say this for a couple of reasons. Number one obviously being that they are our best friends. But a close number two would probably be that we are rounding up on two full years after our wedding and they are both still proud as pie that they were given those titles.

On Friday night at the concert, they took the opportunity to recreate a picture from our wedding and to tell complete strangers about how they were the maid of honor and best man in our wedding.


Minus the Genny in Gabe's right hand, I'd say they did a pretty good job with the recreation though, wouldn't you?

Monday, June 21, 2010

It's Official

Outdoor concerts really say summer to me.


Not that I'm a huge concert goer. But, I think an outdoor concert really makes summer official.

So, for obvious reasons it was really important for me to go to a Brad Paisley concert on Friday night. You know, to welcome summer.

And while, being a Friday, we didn't get there quite as early as I would have liked for tailgating and such. It was still a lot of fun.

We got there with enough time for Caton to drink six beers.

And for me to drink one and a half pepsi zeros.

And to take a lot of ridiculous pictures.

Martin and Gabe had time to pee at least three times.

And the tailgating lasted long enough that both Caton and Gabe needed to touch up their looks in the rearview mirror......Or. Caton  had to touch up her looks in the rearview mirror and Gabe thought it would be fun to join.

Either way.

Plenty of time.

Sunday, June 20, 2010

Purging

I have this problem. I hate having excess things in my life/home. Therefore, I am constantly purging things I think I don't need. I have twice now thrown out a wedding invitation after sending in the response card causing us to have to call a friend to find out the details such as time and location of the event.

Last Sunday, Martin lost his debit card. Therefore, I had to cancel his account. The really important word in that previous sentence is I. Because, I had to cancel his account. It was really more than Martin could handle and according to him, if we look in the books from out premarital counseling, I am the one that is supposed to handle anything Martin cannot.

Anyway, we get two letters in the mail from our bank this weekend. The first one I open up says that the pin number to your debit card is XXXX (I won't write the actual pin number because Martin already thinks this website comes dangerously close to giving away our identities.) I assumed this was some form of junk mail and immediately purged it from my life. The second letter contained Martin's new card. It wasn't until 10 hours later when I had given Martin the new card and he asked, So do I just use the same pin number to work it? That I realized the significance of the first letter.

Whoops.

I explained to Martin about the two letters and how it was all making more sense now. Martin was angry about my excessive need to purge. As luck would have it though,I remembered the number in the first letter and explained this to Martin. See, it's fine. We don't even need the letter. Martin said that is not the point.

The next morning we were having lunch with my parents and this topic came up in conversation again. My dad challenged that I didn't really remember the number which immediately sent me out to the garage to dig through watermelon rinds for a piece of paper with a 4 digit number on it.

And guess what??

I was right.

So when Martin asked me if I had learned that I probably shouldn't immediately throw things out so I wouldn't have to dig through the garbage for them. the obvious response was, No, I have not learned my lesson because I knew the number without having the piece of paper.

Friday, June 18, 2010

The Bulge

Now that I'm somewhere between 17 and 18 weeks pregnant, I feel like I am really starting to pop. Of course, I also feel like the size of my stomach, while always bigger than it used to be, has more to do with what I ate on any given day than on actual baby growth. But, I'll be the first to admit that I am sortof lost when it comes to babies and all things about them so who knows.

Anyways, I snapped these photos last night after I had stripped out of my protective suit which still seems to hide any evidence of pregnancy (half of my cashiers are still just learning that I'm pregnant through the grapevine) and into a fitted tee. While I am admittedly the worst self photography since the invention of digital cameras, I think these pictures get the point across.

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Longing.

3 Things I'm Excited For Right Now

1: July 2nd. The day after grand opening in my new store. I plan on actually sleeping in July. It's going to be grand.

2. Road Trip! at the end of July/beginning of August. It's going to be amazing.

3. Brie, Dry White Wine and Sushi. I plan on having a party to feature all of these items in the beginning of December to celebrate the birth of my child and my ability to consume these items again.

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Quick Update

Ok. So I have been running like crazy this week, but especially due to the fact that I have had limited, ok, no communication with my amazing sister-in-law, Ingrid since she moved to Germany I Monday - I think I need to post something for her sakes if nothing else. So here's a few updates.

1. When I was driving home from work at 10:30 tonight after being gone since 6 am this morning and not eating dinner yet, I allowed myself a double cheeseburger from the dollar menu at McDonald's and sometimes fast food just really hits the spot!

2. Because I spent the majority of the day today working in my store which is under construction and also stocking shelves after close with my store manager I got to wear jeans all day! Any day when I don't have to wear a suit can't be half bad.

3. Working with construction workers all day really brought me back to the days of growing up on a farm. Not because we did a lot of construction, but because of the excessive amount of foul language......so refreshing.


So....that's my life. Enjoy!

Monday, June 14, 2010

Trash Talk

So, I don't usually like to trash talk companies or people on here. That is not to say that I am not judgemental, because that's probably another negative quality of mine, but just to say that I like to keep it civil. In this circumstance, however, I feel the world would be a better place with a little trash talking.

I have flown to a total of 3 different destinations this year thus far: Chicago, Austin, and Ft. Lauderdale. Two of those destinations were originally booked on a Delta flight. Those same two flights were cancelled. On the day of departure.

Destination One: Ft. Lauderdale, Fl.
Circa 5:00 AM, Martin and I have arrived at the Ithaca Airport excited to start our weeklong vacation in Florida.....or not. We arrive and I begin to wait in line at the ticket counter to get our boarding passes. About five minutes into my wait, a guy comes out to tell us that the flight has been cancelled and we will all need to be rebooked. As the entire flight begins to arrive, it becomes clear that Delta has not bothered to contact anyone about this issue.
One passenger: Why is the flight cancelled?
Attendent: There are some crew issues and we have no plane here.
Awesome planning Delta. Forget to have a plane at an airport with an expected departure the week after all the aggresive snowstorms in the DC, Philly area. Every outbound plane won't be booked up to transfer to will it?
Fast forward to two hours later when I've been talking with the attendent trying to find a way to get us Florida. Well it looks like your only option is to cancel the flight and try to get as much of a refund as you can.

Destination 2: Austin, TX
I receive a call at 2:30 AM from an unknown number. I ignore it. The number calls back again. I ignore it again. It calls again, I pick up.
Woman: Hello, I'm calling with Delta, your scheduled flight for this morning has been cancelled due to crew issues. We're going to need to rebook you.
Me: Are you kidding me???
Woman: I'm very sorry. Let me see here. We can fly you out of Rochester this morning.
Me: Look, I know that you have nothing to do with this and I don't mean to sound like a bitch, but can you tell someone that Delta really needs to get their shit together. This is the second time this has happened to me this year and its only March. So now I have to leave my house right now to catch a flight in Rochester, because you guys can't get your shit together.
Woman: I'm very sorry.

And then...
Ingrid was supposed to fly back to Texas on Saturday afternoon, giving her Sunday to close up her affairs and say good-bye to friends before she moves to Germany. But guess what happened when she arrived at the airport??? You've probably figured this one out already......Her flight was cancelled. Guess what airline she was flying on.....Delta. Big surprise there. On top of that they were all, oh - I'm so sorry we accidentally deleted your reservation! You can still fly out today for $800! or we can get you out tomorrow morning for $240. Oh, and by the way, we're not going to refund your money for that ticket that we accidentally cancelled. Yeah, its really too bad but unfortunately you purchased a non-refundable ticket and we can't be held responsible if one of our booking agents totally fucked up and cancelled your flight. As you can probably understand, we're going to make you eat that cost.


Sorry for the massive amount of huge lettering there, but I  felt like that entire statement needed to be made large, just to fully appreciate the ridiculous of it.

The only thing that entire episode with Ingrid did for me was really reaffirm my decision to pay an extra $12 to not fly Delta on my approaching trip to Nashville in July.

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Binary

My sister-in-law, Ingrid is moving to Germany tomorrow. I really don't know what I am going to do with her in an 8 hour time-zone difference. One was plenty for me. I feel like our daily communication may become difficult to uphold. It's really starting to stress me out. But that's not what this post is supposed to be about.

Ingrid came up to New York for the weekend before moving to Germany. I spent all day Thursday with her and it was amazing. During our day together, we obviously discussed this, that, and the other thing. (you probably know exactly what I'm talking about here)....Anyway, one of those topics of conversation was how I see everything in black and white. I really don't deal with gray area; I basically just dismiss it from my life.

That is not to say that I am not open-minded and unaccepting. Because I actually am very open-minded and accepting; I just don't deal with middle ground. The answer is either yes, no, or it's not a question I feel like thinking about.

While I realize this is probably not a very good trait and something I should work on, it is also the reason I am good at my job. Because when someone calls me up and needs a decision made immediately, I have an answer; it's either do this or do that. I'm very straightforward.

As I was driving yesterday I was thinking about this conversation and probably one of the best examples of my tendency to stay away from the gray has to do with my affinity, or lack there of, to desserts. Let me explain...I am not a huge fan of sweet things. I absolutely do not like frosting and I'm also not a huge fan of milk chocolate. That being said, a couple of years ago I decided I just wasn't going to like desserts, apparently choosing less sweet dessert options was a little too much  of a gray area and I wanted to just shut out the entire problem. So, I stopped eating desserts. When dessert was offered, I would say - no thank, I'm not a huge sweet fan. I don't really like dessert. And the conversation would move past me. I think I have since gotten better, meaning I will try desserts on occasion but as a general rule, I'm still avoiding the gray.

Saturday, June 12, 2010

Wherein I Say Too Much

Those of you who know me personally, know that I have filter problems. Or, I don't have a filter. Or, I basically never think before I speak and I have never learned the meaning of a personal story. In my eyes, a story was made for telling - no matter how personal it may seem to be. Those of you who only know me on here, may already have gathered that about me, but honestly, I think I've been pretty tame on this little blog and really haven't overstepped my bounds up until this point.

That being said. I have a halarious story that I absolutely must share even if Martin would kill me if he ever found out that I posted it.

Scene: Sunday Night. Martin and I have just finished getting "intimate".
Me: That was nice.
Martin: Yeah, well I figure we've got to get a lot in before you get really close to having the baby because I don't want to give it a dimple on its chin.
Me: Are you KIDDING?? That is not how that happens. How do you think the baby is laying in there - with its chin sticking out?
Martin: Well. Steve put the idea in my head and I don't want to do it to our baby.
Me: (pauses for a second) Well, if that's the case then I guess you're just going to have to satisfy me in other ways.....like, orally.
Martin: (pauses and lets out sigh) I've met my match.

Friday, June 11, 2010

Running With The Best of 'Em

I think one the reasons I am so good at hanging out with drunk people even when I am not drunk, is because I have this amazing ability to begin acting drunk as soon as someone around me does.

On Saturday night on our walking wine tour in Canandaigua, I managed to be in rare form. It started in one shop, that was crowded with drunk people trying to get another drop of wine, I (the sober one) somehow manage to knock over a shelf with a purse display. Although I tried to pick it up, it managed to almost erupt into a throw-down between the shop owner and the woman from the winery who seemed to be in a disagreement as to who should be picking up the mess.

Wineowner: Um, ma'am, someone dropped something over there that needs to be cleaned up.
Store owner: Yeah, well I'm not cleaning it up one of my girls will.
Wineowner: Ok, well I'm just telling you because its your store.
Store owner: Look, if you have any problems tell one of these two girls because I am not cleaning it up.

Then later on at the Oil and Vinegar Shop I managed to accidently eat the leaves and all on a strawberry. I don't know how I did it, I just didn't want to miss any of the strawberry flavor and got a little too close to the green.

In another situation, one where I was participating in the wine tour, I would have chalked this behavior up to my being drunk as in, "I was so drunk I knocked over a display in one of the stores" or "I was so drunk I ate an entire strawberry including the leaves" somehow, "I was so sober I ate the leaves on a strawberry" just doesn't have the same ring to it.

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Never Have I Ever

I really really love the game Never Have I Ever. If you've never heard of it - you are seriously missing out on something great. I used to make a habit of playing this at the very least on a weekly basis, but that was when I was in college and I haven't played it much, if it all, in the last couple of years. So on Saturday night after we picked up Kerri and headed out to the Sandbar for dinner when someone suggested that we play Never Have I Ever (I think it was me) I jumped on the opporunity to play.

The game is so simple it should almost be a crime. You put up five fingers and then go around in a circle saying something that you have never done. Anyone in the group that has done said act must take a drink and put a finger down. If no one in the group has performed said act then you must take a drink and put a finger down. The first person with all their fingers downs wins or loses. However you want to look at it.

I like to take this game one step farther and play the "adult" version. Alternatively, if you were younger, this wouldn't make sense - but due to my current situation I think its pretty obvious that I have the experience to participate in this version. And really, no one cares if you never smoked a cigarette. I only did it once and it wasn't even a whole cigarette, just a puff. So, if you're going to play this game, and you should, take it up a notch and play the adult version.

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Oils and Vinegars

After tastings from six different wineries on Saturday night, we stumbled across an oil and vinegar shop with free tastings. The girls weren't sure if they wanted to go in, mostly because nothing inside the shop would give them the same lightheadedness that the previous wine had, and we still had one more stop! But I really wanted to go in. For two reasons: 1, I love bread dipped in oil and 2, The pregnancy gods have deemed that I can actually consume the product in that store.

While we were standing on the sidewalk debating whether we should go in, the owner's husband came out and got us and dragged us in there. Then he whipped up a delicious connoction of flavored oils and vinegars that we just drank. Like water. And it was delicious.


Then Martha and Judy decided to head out on their own and create their own perfect concoction. While I admire their sense of adventure - I don't think my life would have been complete if I missed out on the chipotle chocolate flavored mixture that he brought Caton and I next.

And then when I saw Judy's face and watched her and Martha chuck their unfinished mixtures in the garbage, I was infinitely happier with my decision.

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

My Life With Alcoholics

Recently, in the last four months, I haven't been drinking for obvious reasons. But, I think I'm still a pretty good sport and I have absolutely no problem going out with people that are drinking or encouraging them to drink more. I'm a good friend like that and I whole-heartedly approve of bad decisions.



Last Saturday I went out to Martha's new house in Farmington to meet up with her, Caton and Judy and we went on a walking wine tour in Canandaigua. Let's just stop and reflect on that for a moment. A walking wine tour how amazing is that? If I was drinking, I would defnitely be all about this, hell, I wasn't drinking and I'm still all about it. Basically, you pay $5 and get a free wine glass and then tastings from seven different FingerLakes wineries located in seven different cute shops on Main St. Canandaigua. Fortunately for everybody involved - Caton was a complete pro at getting extra tastings of wine and by six wineries in, you can start to see the effects of that above. I think this was around the time that Martha starting yelling, "Aunt Gale! Aunt Gale!" to a random woman up the street.

But don't worry, she quickly (sort of) realized that the woman up the street was not her Aunt Gale and appropriately, stopped yelling.

But "Aunt Gale" being the good sport that she is, offered to take our picture anyway.

Monday, June 7, 2010

I Know This Much is True

We sat there for a minute or so, watching the ocean, saying nothing. Ordinarily, with a girl, I would have panicked at the amount of dead airtime. But with Dessa, the silence felt comfortable.

I have other book posts to do, but I have this strange orderly obsession and I have to post them in the order they were read. So I am finally getting around to posting about I Know This Much Is True by Wally Lamb. I read this book a month or more ago, but I keep putting off posting about it. I don't know why. I am pretty sure it has something to do with my mixed feelings about the book.

And without the hope of her ever coming back, I was already a dead man. Breathing was just a technicality.

The book is very well written, don't get me wrong. And it is really interesting to read about a man's struggle through life with a schizophrenic twin brother. The whole thing is interesting for sure. But for some reason, the entire time I was reading it - I just wanted to hurry up and finish it. Not because I had to find out what was going to happen on the next page, but just because I wanted to be done with it.

'It is all connected, Dominick,' she said, 'Life is not a series of isolated ponds and puddles; life is this river you see below, before you. It flows from the past through the present on its way to the future. That is not something I have always understood; it is something I have come to a gradual understanding of, through my work as both an anthropologist and a psychologist.' I looked out, again, at the rushing water. 'Life is a river,' she repeated, 'Only in the most literal sense are we born on the day we leave our mother's womb. In the larger, truer snese, we are born of the past - connected to its fluidity, both genetically and experientially.'

So yeah, this book - I would definitely recommend reading it. It's a great look at society and different struggles people live through.

Sunday, June 6, 2010

Names

Conversation over the phone:

Martin: So, I'm at the Fry's and we're coming up with names for our baby.
Me: Anything good?
Martin: Basically, if it's a girl we're going to name it chlamydia and if it's a boy its syphilis.
Me: Chlamydia does have a nice ring to it. It sounds like a sweet name if it weren't an STD.
Martin: Are you serious? That wasn't the response I was expecting.

Friday, June 4, 2010

Holey Moley Gaucomole!

I recently read saw these individual gaucomole cups here and instantly decided it was the best idea since sliced bread. And let's be honest, that's going back a long way.


So I decided to make them on Sunday when Michelle and I were eating delicious summer food. And because Michelle was so impressed by the gaucomole, I feel that I must give you that recipe also.

Cut desired number of avocados lengthwise (for two people one avocado is sufficient)
Scoop out the inside. and Throw away the pit.
Mash avocado with a fork. Do not mash too much. I like it chunky.(but this could be a personal preference, I'm not sure. In my world there are no personal preferences there is my way and the way that is undoubtly not as good......just kidding.......maybe)
Slice up a roma tomato (or any tomatoe will do, I just like roma in this instance because it is less liquidy on the inside).
Dice some red onion
Toss it all in with the avocado.
Generously Grate some fresh ground pepper onto the concoction.
Squeeze some lime in there too. (I don't always do this. Only if I have lime. Sometime I also add hotsauce to the deliciousness.)
Mix this all together and, if you want to make it super cute Scoop the gaucomole back into the avocado shells and serve with tortilla chips.


Mmmm

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Watermelon Salsa

On Sunday, Michelle and I had a little summer food lunch while trying to calm my nerves about stresses at work with a movie. We made this Watermelon Salsa and it is seriously the most delicious thing I have ever tasted. I mean, that may be exaggeration, but come on you know me and I never ever exaggerate. So anyway...to make this amazingness:

Cut watermelon into small pieces.
Toss watermelon pieces back into original rind.
Chop up a handful of cilantro
Dice up a handful of red onion.
Throw it all in with the watermelon.
Squeeze a lime into the mixture.
Stir together.
Enjoy with tortilla chips.


I expect everyone to try this immediately!

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

New Store!

I usually don't talk about work on here, but today is opening day of my new store in Horseheads! This is the reason why I haven't left the house after 6:30 AM or returned before 8:00 PM in the last few weeks. But it all leads up to today! Wish me luck!

P.S. Congratulations to Ingrid on getting promoted to Captain today!

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Darts

I love darts.

Specifically, I love playing cricket on the dart board. It is amazing. Here's a rundown:
Get 3 of each - 20, 19, 18, 17, 16, 15 and Bullseye. If you close out(have gotten all three shots) before your opponent then each subsequent shot results in you winning points. The first person to close out the board with the most points wins.
It's pretty much amazing. And it was pretty amazing playing it with Michelle at Dunbars on Saturday night.
Oh, and by the way.......I won!