Q & A Vlog: Part Deux

 

As promised....here it is!  The second installment of my Q &A vlog!  Thanks so much guys for asking your questions and making this so fun!  I hope I don't bore you because there were a ton of questions left to answer, so bear with me.  And yes, after watching this I did say "aw, man, I look fat" after viewing it.  But I'm pregnant, so...what can you do?  Enjoy!

Oh and this took me 3 takes and I don't even want to mention how many times to post.  So I had to cut it into two parts.  Stress.  Augh.

Side note: additional confession

So I'm doing my 3rd vlog to answer the rest of your questions later today, but for now...I have an addendum to my confessions yesterday.  Have you ever heard of the site TheBump.com?  If not, it's EVIL.  For those like me who worry about every freaking thing, their community message boards give me a perfect chance to read about every worst case scenario possible.  Towards the beginning of our pregnancy, I spent more time than I care to admit reading about women who have lost their babies, the scary possibility that I could miscarry my child, so much so that T put a moratorium on my reading from The Bump because he saw no good can come from it.  So I tried.  (Though I'll admit, I still looked from time to time.)

 

 

Well, now that I'm in my 2nd trimester, I have relapsed.  I'll admit it.  I've gone back to the message boards.  (Shame, shame)  But again, no good can come from this.

 

 

On a side note, as an attorney and a chronic worrier, you have to understand...I have to know all my odds.  All possibilities, and that includes worst case scenarios.  I don't know what I'm doing, since this is my first pregnancy after all, so I must educate myself.  And that's getting me in trouble. 

 

 

Well, with my  heart condition, I have to get a c-section to avoid pushing and straining my heart.  Surgery.  I haven't had surgery since I was a wee little baby, and well...I'm scared.  Freaked out.  I keep having dreams that I die in surgery.  I'm totally scared.  So, in my genius, I came across an article yesterday titled "Things that they don't tell you about C-sections," which was about what actually happens in the surgery room.  Suffice it to say, I'm even more freaked out.  Oh. My.  God. 

 

 

I emailed this article to T who immediately responded that I was to get off that site immediately.  That I should get this information from my doctor and not some random site.  But I couldn't help my curiosity.  I needed to  know.  Now I regret that I did. 

 

 

So that's my second confession.  Nain is freaked out.  Isn't there some super easy way to remove the baby from my uterus when it's time? 

 

 

Be back later today with my vlog!  Happy Hump Day!

 



Confessions

As Usher would say...these are my confessions....

I had a fail yesterday with the whole stress management thing.  Guess I'll be starting over again today!

When I'm driving alone in my car, I'll blast the radio and sing at the top of my lungs to (insert your favorite Reo Speedwagon or Chicago ballad here).  And I always know all the words.

I miss beer.  There, I said it. 

I'm excited for the new fall shows to start...mostly because that means Gossip Girl and One Tree Hill will be back.  And no, I am not a 14 year old girl.  I'm a 30 year old woman who likes to watch teen shows. 

I can't eat salad.  Before the pregnancy, sure I'd eat salad all the time.  But ever since I've become pregnant,


I take a bite of salad and want to spit it out like I'm some petulant three year old refusing my dinner. 

I played Barbies with my niece Roo the other day, and I think I had more fun than her brushing their hair.  And these were totally 1980s Barbies that my sister and I used to play with - big hair, big bangs, blue eyeshadow...the works. 

Every year when they have "back to school" stories about students returning to IU in the fall, it makes me really really wish I were still in college.    So much fun!  I miss it. 

Back in college, I may or may not have owned the N-Sync Christmas CD.  Don't judge me. 


When I was a little girl, I wanted to be a ballerina (and I'm 5'1" so that should have been interesting)


I have had a friend text me on a date to see if I needed to 'fake' an emergency to get out of a bad date.  And I have done that on more than one occasion. 


I'm actually really scared about the physically having a baby part.  I may or may not have had several nightmares about dying while having the c-section surgery.  So yeah, I'm freaked out. 


I slept with an old stuffed animal of T's from when he was a kid next to me every night he was gone in Death Valley.  It reminded me of him...


So those are just a few of my confessions.  What are some of yours?

 

Motivation Monday

It's a new week, which means a new motivation!  Well, this one is not a "new" one for me per se.  It's something I've always struggled with:  stress management.


Back in college, I took a "fluff" course called "Stress Management."  It was my junior year, and I thought "hey, easy A, right?"  Ha.  Would it surprise you all to know that I did not get an A in this class?  Yeah, quite the opposite.  I managed to squeak out a B minus.  And that was pushing it.  I'm just not good at stress management, what can I say?  (Well, actually, a lot of that is attributed to skipping class.  BUT, in my defense, who puts a course like that at 4:15 on Thursday afternoons?)


In my line of work, stress is a given.  I knew that going in.  However, now that I don't have just myself to consider here but a baby as well, I have no choice.  I must learn how to handle the stress.  With my heart condition, keeping my blood pressure down is vital.  With the hormones working against me, keeping my stress level down isn't always easy.  Last week particularly was one of those high stress weeks at work.  Every day I came home tired, stressed and anxious.  Not good for the lil' one. 


So it's my goal this week to find ways to cope with work stress.  Because let's face it - it's not going to go away just because I'm pregnant.  I need to find ways to stay on task a little better and to calm down when I feel myself about ready to lose it.  Take a walk when I'm getting anxious.  Not take work home with me in the evenings.  And I'm open to suggestions here because we're at a Stage Five Stress Warning.  Stage Five, folks.  That's some serious stuff. 


So what's your motivation for the week?  To participate, just write up a post this week about what motivation you may need, leave a link to it in a comment, and I'll add you to the list! 


Have a great week everyone!

Chloe @ My New Life as a Housewife 

Spin Cycle: What's in a Word?

Ok, so this week's Spin Cycle?  Is on language.  I could totally go with the easy one here.  I mean, I curse like a sailor on leave on a regular basis.  It's probably a habit I need to break what with the little one on the way.  Hell, I have enough damn time for that anyway, right?  Shit yes, I do.

No, I thought I'd blog about something I've learned a little bit about this week.  (the reason why I didn't blog yesterday)  I went to this two day conference on Bridges to Poverty (a model developed by Ruby Payne) about the cultural barriers/differences between members in generational poverty and middle class - the barriers in language, ways of viewing the world, education, financial management, etc., and I'm sure I am totally butchering the whole premise of the book and classes, but suffice it to say I found it incredibly enlightening and really enjoyed it.  And I think it'll be very helpful in communicating with our clients and in explaining the legal system to them. 

So how does this relate to language, you ask?  Well, it does.  I learned there is a difference between casual register and formal register.  It's all how you communicate and understand others.  See, we lawyers have this serious problem.  We talk in legal-ease.  We're formal.   We assume that everyone around us understands what we say.  We use big legal words (sometimes to sound important) but mostly because we were brainwashed to do so in law school.  You can't be traumatized brain-washed forced happy to read boring, old case law for three straight years and not walk around talking like you wear a white wig and wear a black robe.  For some, it's intentional (to sound smarter than the person they are speaking to).  but those people are jerks.  For me, it's because it's ingrained.  I can't help it.   But I'm trying to work on it.

Part of what I do in my job is to help people who come to our office to seek legal help understand the court system and prepare them for court.  More importantly, I try to prepare them for what to say to the judge and what to understand when reading legal documents.  Because let's face it - with words like Petitioner, Respondent, Wherefore, Heretofore, Bequeath, etc., it can feel like you are reading a foreign language.  And it's intimidating.  And scary.  So something I'm working hard to do is to explain it in a way that is easy to understand.  Read through the legal document and explain exactly what it is saying and explain that it's not as bad as it sounds when first reading it. 

Part of that is also preparing a client for testifying.  Something in a casual register might be acceptable to say in just regular conversation with friends or family...might not be the best thing to say in court when in front of a judge.  It can be hard, but it can be done.  And it does take practicing or going through question and after question so there are no surprises when someone is on the stand.  (Surprises in court are bad, bad, bad.  Trust me.)  And it's not to be mean, but it's to help.  Because nothing is more frustrating to someone when you're in an unfamiliar situation and feel like people are patronizing you and talking over your head.  And like surprises...a frustrated witness is a bad thing, too.  Plus, I want the client walking away from the whole legal experience feeling good about it.  Not feeling stupid or taken advantage of or used. 

So to me, when I hear the word language, I don't just think of English, Spanish, French, or (insert another language here.)  It also means a way of communicating, a person's speech.  And I need to find some way to end this rambling blog.  Because I could go on and on about this, but...I might be boring you all.   So in the words of Forest Gump "that's all I have to say about that." 

Therefore, I hereby order this blog post terminated henceforth. 

  

Sh#t T Says

I've been waiting for an opportunity to do another edition of "Shit T Says."  Ever since we found out we were pregnant, I've been accumulating the things he's said, but since I hadn't told anyone about our pregnancy, all of these "what the hell?" statements had to wait.  Well wait no more!  Here's Edition 2 of "Shit T Says."

When we first found out we were pregnant, we celebrated by going out to dinner.  At dinner, I was remarking about how it's ironic that my oldest nephew is the same age I was when he was born.  And T says "And now he'll be an uncle, too."  I look at him and go "what?"  T stops, thinks and says "well, no...he's already an uncle because of Roo..."  I stare back at him and ask if he understands how a family tree works.  Perhaps I should diagram it out?  It's a family tree.  Not a branch, T. 

I had morning sickness (well, all day sickness if you want to be technical) pretty bad towards the first 8 weeks, and one morning, when I felt particularly bad, I was laying in our bed after breakfast, pre-shower, mind you, and in the fetal position.  I'm sure I looked like hell.  So T comes upstairs, looks at me and goes "Only a husband gets to see his wife look like this."  I respond with a "like what?"  His response?  "ummm....pretty?"  (Good save, good save, T)

 We went to T's brother's wedding right after we found out we were with child, and well, it was bad timing.  Hard to keep a new pregnancy a secret when you have to abstain from drinking at a wedding.   But T made up for it.  Let's just say he was drinking for two that night.  And felt it, too.  That night, as he was getting sick (him, not me, mind you...the one with the whole morning sickness?  yeah, not cool)  I slept with my hand over my ears to not listen to him getting sick and getting myself sick as a result.  So the next morning, he and I both wake up, and I have left saltines and ginger ale next to my bed for the morning.  He has the audacity to take some of my saltines, looks at me and goes "oh honey, now I know how you feel..."  Yes, I hit him after said statement was made.


Last statement made by T was made just Monday evening...he gives me a hug and for some reason, notices my deodorant. "Hey, I like your deodorant.  It's Dove, right?  So that means you're not model-pretty but average-pretty like those girls on the commercials?" 


It's a good thing he's pretty. 

 



Questions and Answers - Part 1

I had so much fun with my first vlog that I decided to take Chloe's suggestion from My New Life as a Housewife  to do a question and answer vlog.  I have to laugh because at first I was worried no one would ask questions, and then I got over 30 of them!  So, in an effort to avoid a 30 minute long vlog, I'm breaking them up into two segments:  one this week and one next week.  So...here's take 1...

  

 

I should note that I recorded this Sunday night, and after that we did make it Facebook official so I guess there's no going back now :-)   And yes, I have cut my hair since that last vlog...I couldn't take the long hair anymore.  Hope it doesn't look awful!

 



Motivation Monday!

So now that the lil' one is on his/her way, my motivation has kind of changed because, well...let's face it...I'm not going to be losing weight any time soon, right?  Sure, once he or she arrives, I'll bust my butt again and work to get that extra weight off, but right now?  Not so much.  So my motivation - stay healthy.


The first twelve weeks of my pregnancy (and still off and on depending on the day) my stomach felt awful, and I couldn't eat anything so working out kind of was pushed to the side, and understandably so.  The energy level hasn't helped either.  There have been days where, after putting in an eight hour work day, getting on that treadmill and walking for 45 minutes just doesn't seem humanly possible.  However, now that I'm in the 2nd trimester and my energy is starting to resurface, I've been trying to do at least 30 minutes of moderate cardio a day.  I'm still working with the personal trainer, but we've had to scale it back a bit on what I do.  My goal?  Keep my heart rate up and strong and help to keep the blood pressure and stress level down.  Because when that is down, that means baby's is down.  My problem is that I do push myself too hard at times so I have been known to work out a little bit too hard and perhaps get dizzy (and then get yelled at by T) but I'm doing much better.  And eating healthy.  Or eating at all for that matter.  So that's my motivation...


My other motivation?  Keep pushing T towards his marathon goal.  Marathon is about 10 weeks away, so we sat down Sunday night and worked out a running schedule for the next three weeks.  And so help me God, his ass will be getting up and running.  Even if I have to use physical force to remove him from bed.  Because baby and I will be cheering him on in November, and I'm super excited for him to reach this goal.  26 miles!  That's incredible, right?


So what's motivating YOU this week?  Thank you to Chloe and Amber LaShell for participating last week...let's get even more this week!  Just write a post about what's motivating you and leave a link to that post in the comments section...and I'll link you up! 


Happy Motivation Monday, everyone!



Chloe @ My New Life as a HousewifeAmber @ Amber LaShell  

Just another random Friday post...

I'm not going to lie...this week has not been easy by any respect.  With T gone since Sunday (coming home tomorrow...finally!) and not being able to even have a phone conversation with him for two straight days...it's been kind of lonely around the T and Nain household.  I'm way too early along in the pregnancy to be feeling the baby moving around in there, so it feels like it's just me in this big house. 

 

 

It isn't to say I haven't done my best to keep busy this week.  I've tried my hardest to stick to my motivation monday goal, and I've gotten three critiques done this week (only four more to go!  ha), and I haven't really had the chance to write.  My hope was to do that last night until nausea came back.  Just when I thought the whole pregnancy nausea had passed and was finally get comfortable....nope!  Not so much. 

 

 

And this whole pregnancy-induced nausea has made me notice something about evening television.  They have a disturbing number of fast food commercials on during TV shows in the evening.  Seriously.  I'm constantly hitting mute or having to turn to another channel.  It's like every other commercial is advertising some kind of gross-looking food.  Of course, any kind of food looks a little gross to me these days, but I really don't need to see a Taco Bell advertisement before bed when I'm trying my best to calm my stomach down while laying on the couch in the fetal position.  Screw you, Taco Bell. 

 

 

Speaking more on the pregnancy end, this past weekend, my mother took me maternity clothes shopping.  Can I just say how difficult it is to find these sections in department stores?  Seriously.  In Kohls we walked the entire store before asking a sales person where they were, and she pointed us to the baby clothing.  And right next to it were two racks of clothes.  A whole two racks.  We found some cute stuff, but it was slim pickins out there.  Slim pickins.  And they don't make petite maternity clothes.  I'm a short girl.  I can't wear normal length pants or I'll end up walking on them.  And sewing is so not my forte, so it's been tough finding some comfy pants. 

 

 

And is it too early to be feeling this big?  I'm only 13 1/2 weeks, but my normal clothes aren't comfortable at all.  I was hoping I could hold off on buying maternity stuff until at least week 16 or so.  But that's just not working for me.  So maternity clothes, it is!

 

 

So  damn, this post has turned into quite the bitch fest.  Sorry about that, guys!  I'll be back to my normal, cheery self around 4:00 p.m. tomorrow when my other half arrives home.   Until then, don't forget...I'm doing a Q&A vlog next week, so leave me all your questions!  Chloe has already hit me with 12 questions, but I would love more!  So stop by yesterday's post and add your own...have a great weekend!

  

You ask, I'll answer!

You know, despite my hesitation, I actually enjoyed vlogging.  I didn't think I would, but I kind of did.  Is it something I'm going to do regularly?  Probably not, but Chloe at My New Life as a Housewife suggested that I do a question and answer type thing, where you guys ask me questions, and I answer it via vlog.  So I thought....why not? 

 

 

So I'm in, folks.  Let's do this!  But the only way to make this fun (and worthwhile, for that matter...ha) is to actually give me some good questions to answer.  The meatier, the better!  But...keep in mind, that I am an attorney, and I always reserve the right to plead the fifth.  Just saying...

 

 

So lay it on me, guys...ask away.  Just leave your questions in a comment, and there's no limit per person.  I'm actually excited to see how this goes! 

 

 

Alright...ready...set...shoot!

  

Houston, we have a problem....

I am supposed to be staying strong.  I'm supposed to be taking one for the team and putting on a happy face.  But I can't.  Because this sucks.  I miss T. 

 

 

The thing about him being all the way in Death Valley means no cell phone reception, no email, no text.  And his work has him going all day, with a three hour delay in time from there and here...so that means I don't get to talk to my husband.  That fact didn't hit me until yesterday when I was heading home from work, and T attempted to call me on one of his breaks.  The reception was awful, and I could barely hear anything he was saying.  I did catch a "I'm not sure how much I'm going to be able to call" and I broke down.  Not just a glistening tear.  Nope, this was ugly.  Full on sobbing, mascara dripping all over the place, snotty nose.  The whole nine yards.  And once it started, it couldn't stop.  And here's poor T sitting on the other end of the phone, in the same room with his coworkers, so it's not like he can say anything more than "It'll be ok, honey."  But I lost it.  You wouldn't have known it looking at the vlog from last night, but I cleaned up pretty well before I hit record.  And calmed down.  Just a smidge. 

 

 

So here I am on Tuesday evening, and I get a  message from T that work has been crazy again today testing trucks out in the desert, and he's not sure he'll be able to call.  I can't lose it on him again, but I'm on the verge.  I'm on the border of an all-out meltdown.  I just want him here.  I just miss him so much.  And this is going to continue until Saturday afternoon.  I seriously hate this.  This sucks.

 

 

I know a great deal of this is pregnancy induced.  But I can't help it.  It sucks that I don't know when/if he'll call.  It sucks I don't know how he's doing during the day and if everything is alright.  And I have no clue how people who have spouses deployed do this because to me, this is just awful. 

 

 

So Nain's a hot mess right now.  A hot, hormonal mess.  And I miss my T.  Why can't Saturday get here sooner?

  

Testing...1..2..3....is this thing on?

Oh.  My. God. Guys, I vlogged!  Craziness!  So I've seen it done before, and even though I hate listening to myself talk or watching myself on video, I decided to do it, because I have some rather huge news to share.  I hope you can play this okay!

  

 So yes, if you couldn't hear it....the news is that I'm pregnant!  We're 13 weeks now, and everything is going just fine.  The picture I attempted to show in the video is actually right here: 

 

 

As you can see, the little baby is just kind of lounging in mom right now.  We got to hear the heart beat, and I can't believe how much he/she has changed since our first ultrasound.  I haven't really started showing just yet, and no, I don't think I'll be posting those pictures of my bump, but that's mostly because honestly, right now, I just feel fat.  But, I did buy my very first maternity clothes this last weekend because Nain's normal clothes just aren't cutting it right now.  I may keep these pants around for occasions like Thanksgiving, etc., because damn, they are comfortable.

 

 

Anyway, I really  hope you guys could hear the video, and I really hope I didn't sound like too much of a spaz :-)  But yay!   We're pregnant!  I'll write more later, but right now, I just want the video to speak for itself. 

 

 

I was going to wait to post this until tomorrow morning, but darn it, I can't wait.  So consider this Tuesday's post!

 



Must...stay...motivated...

We're back to it this week...another week, another Motivation Monday!  You ready for this?  Let's get some major participation this week - all you need to do is just write a post about whatever it is for which you need motivation.  Need motivation making the bed this week?  Getting out of bed?  Sleeping?  (I can give you some of my motivation for that, if you'd like)  Doesn't matter what it is.  Just write a post about it - Mon-Fri, and leave a link to that post in a comment to this post.  And I'll link you up! 


So, I'm minus my other half this entire week.  T is off in Death Valley testing trucks, and I'm here just trying to stay busy.  So my main motivation this week is to keep my mind occupied at all costs.  Because otherwise, I'll be depressed and lonely.  So...to do this, I am dedicating myself to writing and critiquing in the evenings.  I have a TON of critiques to do for my crit group, and I need to add to my manuscript so I actually have something to contribute this go around.  So, I'm going to focus, stay motivated and write, write, write.  It'll be tough, but I think I can do it.  And before I know it, T will be home and all will be well in the world of Nain.  (Did I mention how much this whole thing sucks?)


I may need you, my fellow bloggers, to keep me motivated so if you don't follow me on twitter, I'm @viewfromnain.  Keep me accountable because I may just need it.   Don't feel bad if you  have to come at me ala Rocky style.  Just no cursing :-)


So what's motivating you this week?   Let me know, and everyone...have a great week!

Chloe @ My New Life as a Housewife
Amber @ Amber LaShell Rants

   

Saturday Steals!

 

I don't normally blog on Saturdays,  but I like Camille over at Archives of Our Lives so much, I will make an exception.  Plus, she brought back Saturday Steals, and I just had to share my steal with you this week :-)

 

 

So you know that I'm such an awesome Mary Kay consultant and all, right?  Well, in my Unit this past year, I was number five in retail sales, and I was surprised after work the other day with some awesome swag:

 

 

 

 
I didn't get to go to the annual seminar, but this would have been my ribbon had I gone.  Maybe I'll wear it around the house just for the hell of it.  And I got this cute locket key chain and fun necklace.  Let's see if I can get a better picture....

 

It's not Tiffany's by any means, but I love it.  Plus, it's free!  Who doesn't love free gifts?  So those are my steals for the week.  Stop by Camille's blog and see what other steals people have to share!

 



Bad luck Thursday

Ever have one of those days where it starts off bad and you just think "maybe it'd be better if I went back to bed and have a redo?"  Yeah, yesterday was one of those for me and T.

 

 

So we get up and are getting ready for work...everything going smoothly, and we're actually going to get out of the door at a decent time.  So while T is finishing up, I head outside to take out the recycling and put my stuff in the car.  And I notice it.  My tire is low.  Now, of course, I'm the kind of person who always thinks her tires are low.  I've been caught in way too many places with low tires so now I'm paranoid that my tires are always flat.  I'm always asking T "does this look low to you?"  And the answer is always no.  But this time, it was pretty undeniable.  And we were about five minutes away from leaving for work.  Shit. 

 

 

So I go upstairs and let T know the good news.  We decide to take the car into a tire store and get it patched first thing.  I was inclined to wait, but T didn't feel like changing a full-on flat tire so I caved and sent a quick note to work saying I'm going to be late.  So we drop the car off at Tires Plus, are told it'll be a $25 patch.  No problem.  Not much money at all.  Yeah, not so lucky.  We get a phone call about ten minutes into our drive to work.  It turns out the tire that was flat did have a nail in it (something that's an unfortunate given when you live in a new neighborhood like we do), but it was in a spot that couldn't be patched.  It needed to be replaced.  And they discovered that my front two tires were completely worn to the point that the steel treads were showing.  From what T tells me this basically means I was driving a death mobile to and from work, just waiting for both of my front tires to blow out at any given moment.  Suddenly our $25 fix turned into replacing all of my tires.  And I'm going to choose not to quote how much that fix cost.  Suffice it to say...it was more than $25. 

 

 

We pick up the car after work and head home.  T's following me home, and when I pull into the garage he says "You're not going to like this..."  And I hate statements that start like that, but apparently he noticed, on the way home, that my back right brake light was out.  FML. 

 

 

T's such a good sport, though.  He spent the rest of the evening fixing that problem so that I could legally drive while he's out of town next week.  I guess we should consider ourselves lucky.  Had I not run over that nail, we wouldn't have known that my front tires were so shot.  God forbid that either one of them have blown out next week while he's thousands of miles away, leaving me stranded on the side of the Interstate.  But still....Thursday?  Not one of our better days.

 

 

Here's hoping Friday will be cheaper!

 

All by myself

Next week, it's T's turn for a little road trip for work...well, not a "little" trip.  He's going clear across the country to Death Valley, CA.  Me, I'm not too thrilled about my husband going anywhere that has the word "death" in the title of its city.  But...whatever.  So that'll leave me all by my lonesome. And I'd be lying if I didn't say the thought of this doesn't have me a little freaked out. 

It isn't to say that I'm not independent and can't survive on my own for six days.  Because I can.  Hell, I lived on my own for years before T came along.  Of course, I lived in one or two bedroom apartments on my own, not two story houses.  There's something kind of creepy being in a big house by yourself at night.  (Or is it just me?)

And during those years when I lived on my own and was by myself pretty much 80 percent of the time, I was used to that.  It was my normal.  But that's not my normal anymore.  I'm used to waking up next to the same person every day, coming home to  him at the end of a long day, relaxing together before we go to bed.  My normal changed a LONG time ago, and now the thought of being alone for an entire week while he's on a work trip just makes me feel....lonely.  And totally dreading next week. 

I have to admit...I have this small irrational fear (well, not necessarily small, and honestly, probably not irrational) that something bad will happen when T is gone.  The bad thing I'm worried about?  My grandpa.   I know we're going on a week by week basis right now, and I can't expect T to not do his job just on the off chance something could happen while he's gone, but I am convinced that something will.  Unfortunately, that's just the way things somehow work out in my life.  But I have been promised that he will be on the first plane home if something does happen.  I just pray nothing does. 

So my plan for next week?  Keep busy.  I have decided that next week is my writing week.  I have about 5 critiques to do, and I haven't written anything in my manuscript in months.  So, why not take this time and make the most of it?  And try to avoid the fact that I'm incredibly lonely and miss T? 

I have a feeling this will be my motivation for Motivation Monday next week...let's keep focused, Nain!

  

Back to school

I'm not sure if you guys are aware of this...but...I am one giant nerd.  I really am.  I love learning.  I love History.  Hell, I even have a favorite President.  (Teddy Roosevelt, thank you very much, and yes, I did have a small poster of him at one time in college...don't judge!)  I was that kid when it came to back to school time that really was okay with going back to school.  I got so excited over the school supply aspect of it.  Buying a new lunch box (the old school kind with thermos inside...not the weird stuff they have nowadays), a new backpack, Trapper Keeper, pencils...I would stack it all up in my room and just get so excited about using it for the new school year.  It was like a fresh beginning, a start of something new and exciting.  A new adventure.

Granted, this excitement wore off some, but not really...as I got into high school, it was buying planners for the new school year and yes, a new backpack (things don't change, I guess).  In college, I loved it, too.  Now, when I reached law school, this excitement kind of faded away because law school sucks the fun out of pretty much anything.  (It really does.)  But now, I find myself, as a grown adult, still getting excited about back to school time.  And I'm not even in school.  My nieces and nephews are going back, my coworkers children, and every time I talk to them about it, I am all "Man, you are so lucky!  Back to school time isthe best!"  Of course, these kids look at me like I've grown a third head, but I can't help it.  I'm a nerd. 

I'm that kid who purposely joined the summer reading program through the library and made it a point to read every freaking book on that list.  I'm the kid who in high school would rather spend a week at Hoosier Girls State playing "mock government" than go on some vacation or spend time doing nothing at home.  I am a nerd.  And dammit, I'm proud of it. 

God help my kids some day...when it's time to go back to school, and I'm jumping up and down like a giddy school girl, getting excited over new highlighters and pencil cases.  Poor kids won't know what they have in store for them. 

And since I'm outting myself here, I need to know...am I the only one?  Am I the only back to school nerd out there?  Join me, fellow nerds, and revel in the beauty that is back to school shopping season.  And don't listen to those other kids who are making fun of your new Trapper Keeper and NKOTB folders.  They're just haters.  All of them. 

This random post was brought to you by the letter C.  As in Nain is crazy, and this is what happens when crazy Nain comes up with a random post late at night.  Enjoy!

 



Bad habits

So this week's Spin Cycle with Sprite's Keeper spoke to me and said "Hey, Nain!  This topic...it's for you!" It's all about bad habits, and boy, do I have them!  I mean we all do, but mine are special.  Or rather I'm skilled at them.  I graduated with honors in them.  It was my major and my minor.  So yeah....It was hard to pick, but...I had to narrow it down to a few :-)  Let's see how many of these make T chuckle, too.

1.  Picking at my nails.  This is a nervous habit I developed way back when in high school.  I gave it up for the wedding, but...with stress over the past year, I've fallen off the wagon.  And I can't stop, dammit.  My skin around my nails just isn't pleasant.  I'm always being told to stop doing that, but it's totally subconcious.  Not to say I shouldn't try to stop, though.  Maybe I will...

2.  Leaving my shoes everywhere.  I'm married to a very clean and organized person.  And I am so far from that.  Back in the day when I lived on my own, I would get home, kick my shoes off next to the door and leave them there.  They would be there waiting for me when I left the apartment next.  Convenience, right?  Why would I want to put them away and then dig them out when I need them?  But T?  Yeah, he's not a big fan of that.  It drives him crazy, in fact.  So now I just do it to bug him.  Or just by accident.  I can't help it.  I'm lazy when it comes to my shoes...and I have a lot of them, too!

3.  Starting something, not finishing it and going on to the next thing.  I think I have adult on-set A.D.D.  Never diagnosed, but I can't focus worth a crap.  This isn't to say I don't eventually finish the first task.  It's just that I start about ten more between when I start the first one and when I end the last one.  By the end of it, I'm confused, tired and a little stressed out. 

4.  Worrying.  I make worrying an olympic sport.  Sure, you say there's no way that I don't worry as much as you, right?  Nope, sorry.  My evidence of this?   I was in 5th grade when I was first tested for an ulcer.  Ten years old.  Because of my anxiety and nervousness.  I get nervous before anything - good or bad.  I think about all of the possible contingencies of what can go wrong.  I then fret about them constantly.  Something good happens...I think about the possible bad things that can happen just because the good thing happened.  I almost fainted from worry before being sworn in as an attorney.  I knew I passed the bar exam, but I was determined that there was a possibility they could retroactively flunk me.  So I was miserable the entire ride there, during the ceremony...pretty much until I had the certificate in my hand and after I verified that they spelled my name correctly.  (And that it was from the State of Indiana)

5.  Pessimism.  I kind of think that one goes along with the worrying.  I'm not a glass is half full or empty kind of girl.  I broke the glass.  There is no glass and the liquid is spilt all over the floor.  And that broken glass is the only one in the cabinet.  So sorry, kid, no milk for you!

6.  Cursing - I curse like a sailor.  This gets me in trouble with the nieces and nephews all the time.  God help me when we have children. 

7.  Worrying about how much I'm cursing, picking at my nails, my lack of housekeeping skills and the fact I can't finish a project.

8.  Why am I worried about that?  I suck at life anyway.  It's not like I'd actually succeed if I tried to do it anyway.  Man, I suck.

9.  Aw...shit damn hell.  Look what I did. 

So those are some of MY bad habits...check out what other Spinners have to share!

   

Motivation Monday!

I'm back with some motivation fun this week...God knows I could use the motivation!  We're still staying pretty busy with work and everything with my family.  Not much has changed.  They say no news is good news, but honestly, in this type of situation, considering the fact we're not looking for good news, it just means the status quo when we don't hear anything.  And that's not necessarily good or bad.  I guess it's how you look at it.  But thank you for all of your kind thoughts and prayers.  Keep them coming because my Grandpa can use all of them, and we appreciate them.


So anyway, let's get to the Motivation Monday part....I hope I get people to do it today but...since I've been out of the game so long I won't get too sensitive about it :-)  Here's you how do it...just write a post about what you need motivation for this week, copy and paste the link to that post in a comment on this one, and I'll link you up!


So my first motivation....helping T.  See, in November, my man (who is certifiably crazy for doing this, is my disclaimer) is running a marathon.  26.2 miles.  That's just not right.  I'm good with the 13.1, but you double that?  No freaking way.  But he's doing it.  And it's my goal to motivate him.  It's been a tough summer with the unbearable heat, and I swear he keeps setting these goals for himself that he's going to get up at 5:00 a.m. and run.  Doesn't happen.  (Sorry, T!  I'm outting you here!)  So both Saturday and Sunday, I kicked his ass out of bed at 8:00 and made him go run.  Pulling the blankets back, setting the alarm, even pushing him out of bed physically.  And I am proud that he did it.  And I have every intention of keeping him up with doing it because this 26.2 mile goal is his goal, however crazy it may be, and I want to see him succeed.  I'll be on the sidelines, of course.  But cheering the entire time!


Now for myself?  I need some professional motivation.  Career-type motivation, of course.  I have a TON of stuff to do.  TON.  And it's hard to keep focused.  I'm not sure if I have developed some type of adult on-set A.D.D., but dude, I can't stay focused at all.  So...this week...I need to really kick it into high gear.  I honestly have no choice.  I have some huge deadlines coming up, and I'm losing my intern after Friday so I will be down one entire staff member until our attorney on maternity leave comes back in Sept.  Who's that huddled in the corner under her desk in the fetal position?  Oh, that'll be me next week.  God help me. 


Anyway, so that's my motivation....what's YOURS?  Happy Monday everyone!



Chloe @ My New Life as a Housewife    

Guest blogging!

Hi everyone!  I won't be blogging over here today, but I am guest blogging at Chloe's blog - My New Life as a Housewife.  So check it out!  And get to know Chloe because she's one of the sweetest people I know!

  

Checking in...

I'm still here, alive and kicking!  This week has been kicking my butt with the heat and family things, but I promise I am still here!  In fact, check back tomorrow, and you'll get to read my guest post over at Chloe's My New Life as a Housewife!  I am very excited to be guest posting...so exciting :-)

 

 

Thank you for all of you who have been sending positive thoughts and prayers to me on the blog, twitter and Facebook.  I don't have any updates other than the fact that things seem to still just be going in the direction they were going.  He won't be getting better, but right now, they are determining where he will be, whether that be in his assisted living apartment with his stuff, his bed (our preference) or the nursing home.  I truly feel for my mom and her siblings as I couldn't even begin to imagine what they are dealing with or decisions they have to make.  I pray for him and for them every day.

 

 

In the mean time, I am trying my best to focus on the little things in life that make me happy...T and I are actually going on a date this weekend (to a movie, no less!).  I'm trying to think past the heat of summer and think towards fall.  NFL training camps have begun.  They are talking about college football starting.  I'm only one month away from my one year wedding anniversary.  (These are not listed in any particular order, so no worries...I am not placing football above T, promise!)  So that's my focus right now - focus on my blessings and also look forward to the future. 

 

 

And don't forget!  Check out my guest post tomorrow :-)