The Best Work Day Ever

Last Thursday (well, by now the Thursday before last) was the best work day I have ever had. No one annoyed me with phone calls; in fact, no one bothered me at all because I took a personal day and stayed home with Jeff and Jude. Jude was out of daycare for the week, as daycare was closed for vacation and Jeff has more seniority with his company than I have with mine, so he took vacation to be at home. Though they came to visit me, it wasn't the same as being home with them and so, on Thursday, I took a day to be with them. Jude got a bit sick in the morning and threw up a couple of times (which is such a rare occurance with him -- he rarely gets sick). When I asked him what was wrong, he said "My tummy hurts." But, then he reached out and touched my hand and said "But I'm okay though." ("But I'm okay though" is a common phrase for him to use after one accident or another to let us know that the skinned knee or bruised hand isn't a life-threatening injury. In fact, such things rarely slow him down for more than 30 seconds or so.) He then said "I want my Pooh" and I handed him his security blanket, which he placed over his stomach like a magic salve. After being sick twice, though, he fell back asleep on my lap and was asking for breakfast when he awoke.
After breakfast and clean up, we headed out to the library, where we spent much of the day. Jude loves the library and our local branch is very kid-friendly. Jude and I played in the children's section while Jeff browsed. A little girl sat down at the table with us, playing, but not really talking. When Jeff came back, I left to browse (though I knew what I wanted to get) and the little girl (a six-year-old) latched herself on to Jude and Jeff for the rest of our visit. Wherever her mother was, I don't know, but she spent all of her time following around Jude and playing with him and trying to engage Jeff in conversation about Jude. (Jude is 2; he likes to talk to Jeff and me and his grandparents, but he is pretty shy around everyone else.) So we wandered the library and spent the day together. Jude picked out a movie (Thomas the Train) and I picked out two Dav Pilkey books for him. All in all, so much better than going in and sitting at my desk all day.

100% Baby-Free Post

Much on my mind this week, but I haven't been able to sit down to write down any of these thoughts. Last movie watched: Candy. I was apprehensive, since I am drawn to movies about drug users (Trainspotting, Requiem for a Dream, etc.) and was afraid that Candy would have nothing new to offer. The beginning of the film is very good and I was drawn in. The middle was okay, treading familiar territory, but the end completely redeemed the film and I would recommend it. I had been in the mood, too, for a filling meal of a movie after stuffing my head with so much junk lately, all sorts of bad horror movies and other assorted silliness that act as a nice snack during a moment of boredom, but which are hardly filling -- or lasting.
Lately, too, I had been longing for a book that might entertain and I found such a book in Lunar Park, the latest offering from Bret Easton Ellis. The book is definitely unlike any other that Ellis has written, an "autobiography" that was not really an autobiography. The first part of the book drew me in and then the tone changed abruptly, but I should have expected that after reading American Psycho. I read Psycho on a road trip to Washington D.C. and the whole trip home (when I wasn't driving, of course), I was appalled and fascinated by the descriptive passages toward the end of that book. Park isn't so grim, but it does delve into horror, before elevating again into something different. All in all, I enjoyed the ride, so thank you Ellis.
Judging by the amount of time the local news dedicated to the subject (20 seconds; yes, a whole 20 seconds), I shouldn't really care too much that Kurt Vonnegut passed away, but I do. I cried a bit at the news, sad that Vonnegut would produce no more great novels and sadder still that there would be so many people watching the news who don't even know who Vonnegut was. My introduction to him didn't come until high school, and it wasn't through Slaughterhouse-Five. I did an independent study in Engligh in high school and was given Vonnegut's Sirens of Titan to read (along with Trout Fishing in America, two very trippy novels that I loved). Well, it was love at first read and I had to have more Vonnegut, reading Breakfast of Champions, then Slaughterhouse-Five. All books I would recommend.
This weekend, we also saw Grindhouse, but I will leave that for another post.

Almost Parasite

Lately, my life revolves around naptime: taking naps, waking up from naps. The work day is an interruption between naps. I don't recall being quite this tired during my last pregnancy, but it was three years ago. Though I am nauseated pretty much all the time, it isn't as bad as it was last time, so maybe it is all balancing out. I am having more cravings, but I know that will pass also, cravings for foods that my body doesn't even need: hamburger and bread (though not together). I am trying to convince my body to crave broccoli or apples, but no. The baby wants hamburger. When I was pregnant with Jude, I would eat what I usually ate and he was like a very tiny hotel guest ordering food service. Sometimes he would keep the food and eat it, but more often than not, he would reject it, sending it back up. Sure, I know that isn't how it works, but I like the idea of a tiny hotel guest, hanging out, eating, enjoying the pool. Only two more weeks and the "embryo" officially becomes a "fetus." Go, fetus!
I am off of work today, as I was yesterday, but head back to work tomorrow. I've been able to catch up on my naps and watch movies, accomplishing nothing, but feeling very relaxed. Tonight we plan to color eggs for Easter. For the past three days, Jude has been dragging the coloring kit out of the kitchen cupboard, saying "I color" and I keep putting it back, letting him know that we will color on Thursday. Yesterday, he wasn't feeling good, but all he would say is "I sick" and "My head hurts." This morning, though, he was his usual self, full of energy. I offered to let him stay home with me, but he wanted to go to daycare because they are having an Easter party today. I dropped him off and instead of leaving right away, as I usually have to do, I stayed to watch him for a little while, watching him run around after the other kids, laughing and smiling, wondering how he will react to a little brother or sister of his own.