Duly Noted

My friend sent these words from Mary Oliver to acknowledge the mystery of birth and humanity. I like that the spirit "would rather plumb rough matter" than float. I picture Misha as a feisty little spirit. Fierce and entering the world "like a stitch of lightening." All poignant imagery to keep in mind during labor. Poem (the spirit likes to dress up) The spirit  likes to dress up like this:   ten fingers,   ten toes, shoulders, and all the rest  at night   in the black branches,     in the morning in the blue branches  of the world.   It could float, of course,     but would rather plumb rough matter.  Airy and shapeless thing,   it needs     the metaphor of the body, lime and appetite,  the oceanic fluids;   it needs the body's world,     instinct and imagination  and the dark hug of time,   sweetness     and tangibility, to be understood,  to be more than pure light   that bur

Week 37 has not been my best week but my head is above water and there is sunshine on my skin again.  I felt pretty run down thus skipping my power hour (or half hour) of sweaty glory at the gym- a combination that never improves my state- pregnant or not.  On Thursday, the tides changed when I refused to listen to my laundry list of excuses and dragged my sorry pregnant self onto the elliptical.  After "sweeping out the cobwebs" (as my mom likes to say), I felt like a new woman. I am completely aware that my mental/emotional state depends on exercise (especially in the fresh air).  It's certainly an addiction in the sense that when I go without it, I crave it, I behave differently, and I get cranky and downtrodden.  But, is that necessarily a bad thing?  It's nice to know that I can rely on movement for some positive energy.  A little sweat and fresh air is all it takes. IN OTHER NEWS...I have to chuckle at myself.  I am the WORST at IKEA.  I cannot go to the

I didn't post last week's dinner menu, so this is a double feature post.  (As a side note- SAT question of the day is a routine warm up in my English class.  The subject of week's grammar question was a 1930's ploy to attract more moviegoers by offering a double feature- two films for the price of one.  I asked my students if they ever went to a "double feature."  They giggled and looked around.  I told them not to worry as my mom was a real supporter of "double feature"- one of her more rebellious habits along with McDonald's ice cream for lunch.) Anywayssss- to the menus! February 23rd-Friday, March 1st Saturday- "Homemade" pizza...although there really isn't anything homemade about this pizza...store bought crust, mozzarella log, italian sausage, basil, and pizza sauce. Sunday -Salmon, Israeli couscous, and steamed green beans. Monday- Brocoli and cheese soup (cooking light- thanks mom!) with baked potatoes (microwave...so easy).

I didn't post last week's dinner menu, so this is a double feature post.  (As a side note- SAT question of the day is a routine warm up in my English class.  The subject of week's grammar question was a 1930's ploy to attract more moviegoers by offering a double feature- two films for the price of one.  I asked my students if they ever went to a "double feature."  They giggled and looked around.  I told them not to worry as my mom was a real supporter of "double feature"- one of her more rebellious habits along with McDonald's ice cream for lunch.) Anywayssss- to the menus! February 23rd-Friday, March 1st Saturday- "Homemade" pizza...although there really isn't anything homemade about this pizza...store bought crust, mozzarella log, italian sausage, basil, and pizza sauce. Sunday -Salmon, Israeli couscous, and steamed green beans. Monday- Brocoli and cheese soup (cooking light- thanks mom!) with baked potatoes (microwave...so

So, what's going on at 36 weeks?  Here are a few observations. Baby... Baby is an acrobat.  This doesn't surprise me as the first ultrasound at about 6 weeks revealed the little guy bouncing up and down and throwing bows in his pod (throwing bows= dance move, throwing elbows).  Now, he thinks it is hilarious to kick me in the rib cage and let his foot linger for a while.  He likes to somersault during class discussions  and distract me from my eager 11th graders.  He is clearly displaying early signs of class clown.  This is worrisome.  He also tends to move when I (or he?) is hungry.  Instead of a 5 o'clock cocktail, I get a 5 o'clock kick in the ribs.  :)  I love it. Me... My belly bump is for real at this point.  Although, at parent/teacher conferences, several of my 11th grade parents expressed utter dismay when I said "Yup, so I only have four more weeks left...(eyebrow lift/grimace/anger)...because I am due April 1st."  But really folks, the bump i