commence dancing around.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Monday, December 7, 2009
the postal service and ninja baby
so this was the opening song on one of my favorite albums ever by The Postal Service...
seriously, this cd lived in the player in my car for a loooooong time.
other miscellany:
we went to the doctor today for the nuchal translucency test, which is essentially a chromosome test that's told in ratios... they take pictures of the baby in certain positions to measure an area behind it's neck, draw my blood, and factor in my age and come out with a ratio of how likely our baby is to have a chromosomal disorder. it's very non-invasive and is meant, if the results are satisfactory to the doctor and patient, to keep you from getting an amniocentesis (which carries more risk). when the technician started the sonogram the baby was sleeping there, all curled up and comfortable, so she started jiggling it around to make it move. it took awhile (heavy sleeper??), but finally as she was dragging the whatever-it-is across my abdomen the baby bucked like, 'whoa, okay fine!'. it was kicking like a little ninja with it's little skinny legs, it's little hands were stretching and moving around, and then it did a flip and ended up on it's head facing the other way. how fun to see that! and what a wild thing to not feel it at all! our doctor was pleased with how everything looks, and we're headed back in 3 weeks (we should get the results of the test in about a week). if anyone is counting, I've gained about 4-5 pounds so far, which is right on.
have you heard the phrase 'an idle mind is where the devil works'? I think it's true... or maybe I just think we're meant to do something and not lay around all day. I say this because, after our doctor's appointment, M and I came home to just enjoy the rest of the day since we'd gotten our work-work done early, and after watching a couple of X-files episodes, eating lunch, taking a nap, catching up on SYTYCD and an episode of Glee, I felt... bored. not bored really - I actually really don't like for adults to talk about being bored, as though we don't have the power to go do something - I just felt in need of action. cleaning the kitchen and doing some laundry made me a new woman. I guess I like a little accomplishment in my day, it makes me feel better.
as to the question from yesterday... I appreciated the comments, ladies. when it comes to trying to see things from the perspective of others, I suppose it all depends on what our intentions are. I do believe that, on a very basic level, if a person wants to effectively communicate with another person or group of people, learning where they're coming from has obvious benefits both interpersonally and informationally. you simply have a greater chance of being heard and understood and creating a receptive space if there's a bridge of understanding and respect between you. sadly, I think sometimes we decide that the message as-understood-by-me is more important than the hearer. I've been there, and it's not a good feeling. I've also been on the opposite side, where I felt I didn't say enough or wasn't bold enough because I didn't want to offend someone.
from my own experience, I can easily spend my time taking in information and formulating my own beliefs about things and then looking for an outlet or soapbox to express them... for example, my family's always been very open about discussing all manner of things, and debating politics, current issues, and faith has always been a part of our fabric. I'm glad of it and I enjoy the sharpening, but I'm also aware that sometimes my feelings about various topics and the way I want to express them have the potential to get in the way of my respecting and loving others... usually not horribly or hurtfully, but I'm aware of it anyway. I want to be known more for my love, my faith, and my spirit more than my opinions, but that's tough when everything gets so easily intertwined.
our world seems so polarizing now.. it doesn't appear to be very popular to try to lay aside your own opinions and thoughts to try to comprehend that of people you disagree with... or, just lay them aside out of respect and to avoid fruitless argument, when that's the inevitable outcome. maybe to some it might smack of weakness. I see it like this... I have some ideas based on information I have, but I'm guessing I don't have the full picture. others are looking at other puzzle pieces on which they've founded their ideas. it's not weakness to be open to more potential picture, even if what I learn and hear muddies my own water a little and makes me have to re-think. critical thinking is so necessary, especially now that there's so much information and mis-information at our fingertips - we must keep testing and verifying what we learn. I thought of this excerpt from Robert Kiyosaki's book 'Rich Dad Poor Dad', when he's discussing investing in education:
'I love audio tapes. the reason: I can rewind quickly. I was listening to a tape by Peter Lynch, and he said something I completely disagreed with. instead of becoming arrogant and critical, I simply pushed 'rewind' and I listened to that five-minute stretch of tape at least twenty times. possibly more. but suddenly, by keeping my mind open, I understood what he said. it was like magic... I gained tremendous depth and insight into the vast resources of his education and experience. the net result: I still have the old way I used to think, and I have Peter's way of looking at the same problem or situation. I have two thoughts instead of one.'
he goes on to say that the only way to accumulate more information in this way to be humble enough to seek it out or listen to it, and that 'listening is more important that talking'. financial matters are his specialty, but I got a lot out of this book when I read it, oh, three years ago... just pulling it down to look up that quote makes me want to reread it.
not that I think you can't hold personal Truths that are unchanging. I certainly don't believe everything is relative. but in terms of dealing with the rest of the world, the questions for me at the end of the day sound like: 'is how I'm living speaking that Truth? do others get it by how I behave, the words I say? what's really important to me, and am I communicating that?' honestly, parts of me still feel splintered, like there are some areas that are still sort of renegade and reactive, flapping in the wind and not doing anyone much good. but I do know when I hit the Spirit groove, when I feel that I'm operating in the way I'm meant to in my convictions, and the freedom, peace, and control of that place makes me want to conform all of my life to that channel.
thanks for reading... if anyone has more ideas and food for thought, I'd be happy to hear them.
-m.y.
seriously, this cd lived in the player in my car for a loooooong time.
other miscellany:
we went to the doctor today for the nuchal translucency test, which is essentially a chromosome test that's told in ratios... they take pictures of the baby in certain positions to measure an area behind it's neck, draw my blood, and factor in my age and come out with a ratio of how likely our baby is to have a chromosomal disorder. it's very non-invasive and is meant, if the results are satisfactory to the doctor and patient, to keep you from getting an amniocentesis (which carries more risk). when the technician started the sonogram the baby was sleeping there, all curled up and comfortable, so she started jiggling it around to make it move. it took awhile (heavy sleeper??), but finally as she was dragging the whatever-it-is across my abdomen the baby bucked like, 'whoa, okay fine!'. it was kicking like a little ninja with it's little skinny legs, it's little hands were stretching and moving around, and then it did a flip and ended up on it's head facing the other way. how fun to see that! and what a wild thing to not feel it at all! our doctor was pleased with how everything looks, and we're headed back in 3 weeks (we should get the results of the test in about a week). if anyone is counting, I've gained about 4-5 pounds so far, which is right on.
have you heard the phrase 'an idle mind is where the devil works'? I think it's true... or maybe I just think we're meant to do something and not lay around all day. I say this because, after our doctor's appointment, M and I came home to just enjoy the rest of the day since we'd gotten our work-work done early, and after watching a couple of X-files episodes, eating lunch, taking a nap, catching up on SYTYCD and an episode of Glee, I felt... bored. not bored really - I actually really don't like for adults to talk about being bored, as though we don't have the power to go do something - I just felt in need of action. cleaning the kitchen and doing some laundry made me a new woman. I guess I like a little accomplishment in my day, it makes me feel better.
as to the question from yesterday... I appreciated the comments, ladies. when it comes to trying to see things from the perspective of others, I suppose it all depends on what our intentions are. I do believe that, on a very basic level, if a person wants to effectively communicate with another person or group of people, learning where they're coming from has obvious benefits both interpersonally and informationally. you simply have a greater chance of being heard and understood and creating a receptive space if there's a bridge of understanding and respect between you. sadly, I think sometimes we decide that the message as-understood-by-me is more important than the hearer. I've been there, and it's not a good feeling. I've also been on the opposite side, where I felt I didn't say enough or wasn't bold enough because I didn't want to offend someone.
from my own experience, I can easily spend my time taking in information and formulating my own beliefs about things and then looking for an outlet or soapbox to express them... for example, my family's always been very open about discussing all manner of things, and debating politics, current issues, and faith has always been a part of our fabric. I'm glad of it and I enjoy the sharpening, but I'm also aware that sometimes my feelings about various topics and the way I want to express them have the potential to get in the way of my respecting and loving others... usually not horribly or hurtfully, but I'm aware of it anyway. I want to be known more for my love, my faith, and my spirit more than my opinions, but that's tough when everything gets so easily intertwined.
our world seems so polarizing now.. it doesn't appear to be very popular to try to lay aside your own opinions and thoughts to try to comprehend that of people you disagree with... or, just lay them aside out of respect and to avoid fruitless argument, when that's the inevitable outcome. maybe to some it might smack of weakness. I see it like this... I have some ideas based on information I have, but I'm guessing I don't have the full picture. others are looking at other puzzle pieces on which they've founded their ideas. it's not weakness to be open to more potential picture, even if what I learn and hear muddies my own water a little and makes me have to re-think. critical thinking is so necessary, especially now that there's so much information and mis-information at our fingertips - we must keep testing and verifying what we learn. I thought of this excerpt from Robert Kiyosaki's book 'Rich Dad Poor Dad', when he's discussing investing in education:
'I love audio tapes. the reason: I can rewind quickly. I was listening to a tape by Peter Lynch, and he said something I completely disagreed with. instead of becoming arrogant and critical, I simply pushed 'rewind' and I listened to that five-minute stretch of tape at least twenty times. possibly more. but suddenly, by keeping my mind open, I understood what he said. it was like magic... I gained tremendous depth and insight into the vast resources of his education and experience. the net result: I still have the old way I used to think, and I have Peter's way of looking at the same problem or situation. I have two thoughts instead of one.'
he goes on to say that the only way to accumulate more information in this way to be humble enough to seek it out or listen to it, and that 'listening is more important that talking'. financial matters are his specialty, but I got a lot out of this book when I read it, oh, three years ago... just pulling it down to look up that quote makes me want to reread it.
not that I think you can't hold personal Truths that are unchanging. I certainly don't believe everything is relative. but in terms of dealing with the rest of the world, the questions for me at the end of the day sound like: 'is how I'm living speaking that Truth? do others get it by how I behave, the words I say? what's really important to me, and am I communicating that?' honestly, parts of me still feel splintered, like there are some areas that are still sort of renegade and reactive, flapping in the wind and not doing anyone much good. but I do know when I hit the Spirit groove, when I feel that I'm operating in the way I'm meant to in my convictions, and the freedom, peace, and control of that place makes me want to conform all of my life to that channel.
thanks for reading... if anyone has more ideas and food for thought, I'd be happy to hear them.
-m.y.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
while my face is full of noodles...
this is a shins song called 'sleeping lessons' that, frankly, just rocks. musings about the meaning of the lyrics can be found here.
I was prompted to think about this while reading Godgrown's latest blog... how important do you think it is to try to understand where other people are coming from while engaging in the world we live in? whether we're talking politics, faith, family interactions, social issues, what have you? husband has rented more X-files and I need another helping of this delectable chicken & noodles he made, so I'll reserve my thoughts for tomorrow... but I really think the question has merit. the actor in me wants to rephrase the question as, 'how important should my audience's opinion be to me, and how much should that change my communication choices... or is it about what I have to say from my worldview, regardless of how others feel?'
happy Lord's day. everyday.
-m.y.
I was prompted to think about this while reading Godgrown's latest blog... how important do you think it is to try to understand where other people are coming from while engaging in the world we live in? whether we're talking politics, faith, family interactions, social issues, what have you? husband has rented more X-files and I need another helping of this delectable chicken & noodles he made, so I'll reserve my thoughts for tomorrow... but I really think the question has merit. the actor in me wants to rephrase the question as, 'how important should my audience's opinion be to me, and how much should that change my communication choices... or is it about what I have to say from my worldview, regardless of how others feel?'
happy Lord's day. everyday.
-m.y.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
if I fall, would you pick me up?
this song will always make me think of the mix cd mgb made me when we started dating... he put both this song and 'San Francisco' on the playlist, and that was my first introduction to Hello Saferide (and his soft spot for Swedish pop singers).
my other favorite from this album is probably 'Get Well Soon'... great song.
two more gifts bought today! plus a ton of groceries, as our cupboard was bare, the dog is almost out of food, etc. going to the market this morning was fun - it was so cold, but outside there were still a couple of booths of vegetables with gorgeous greens and gorgeous red/yellow carrots, the meat and eggs booth, the knife sharpener people, and some crafty things. inside were the usual suspects, and everyone seemed happy to be there. we got into a fun conversation with one of the farmers and learned a few new tricks. did you know that the best bird deterrent for your garden is a big blow up snake? for real, they sell them at Wabash Feed Store. after t'afia, we headed to Central Market for a few things (which was miraculously not crazy crowded) and then rounded out the trip at the newly renovated Kroger on Buffalo Speedway. that Kroger is seriously awesome. I'm not ashamed to admit that I found some organic Frosted Raspberry Toaster Pastries... or A Sorta Better Pop Tart... that almost made me do a dance, they looked so good to me. I haven't really craved specific foods, but I do want something sweet every now and then and boom! this fit the bill today. Most of the time right now, food is just sort of ho-hum more than anything. I can eat most anything and I'm definitely eating enough (and, I think, a pretty good variety), but if I think about it too long not much sounds awfully appetizing.
between outings, we finished watching the movie version of 'Rent' that M brought home... we'd gotten to talking about it one night, and I tried to describe the waves of excitement some of us in the theatre community experienced when that musical opened back in the early 90s, and why it was a big deal. I think it reads pretty dated now, but it was a new thing to have a show that openly dealt with AIDS and alternative lifestyles as Rent did, and the message of bucking the system, artistic freedom, and seizing the day while you've got it was powerful for a young, emotional actor. I never saw it live - or the movie, for that matter, because I was skeptical of it translating to screen - but I totally owned the original cast recording, and while watching the film I was surprised to remember so many of the lyrics. thought of you, Bethy. have you seen Neil Patrick Harris as Mark try to save Broadway on SNL??? AWEZOME.
I get to go to my meeting tonight and rejoice with my family there in happybabynews. woo-hoo! the only downside to the cold weather is that I can't seem to get my feet warm enough.
-m.y.
my other favorite from this album is probably 'Get Well Soon'... great song.
two more gifts bought today! plus a ton of groceries, as our cupboard was bare, the dog is almost out of food, etc. going to the market this morning was fun - it was so cold, but outside there were still a couple of booths of vegetables with gorgeous greens and gorgeous red/yellow carrots, the meat and eggs booth, the knife sharpener people, and some crafty things. inside were the usual suspects, and everyone seemed happy to be there. we got into a fun conversation with one of the farmers and learned a few new tricks. did you know that the best bird deterrent for your garden is a big blow up snake? for real, they sell them at Wabash Feed Store. after t'afia, we headed to Central Market for a few things (which was miraculously not crazy crowded) and then rounded out the trip at the newly renovated Kroger on Buffalo Speedway. that Kroger is seriously awesome. I'm not ashamed to admit that I found some organic Frosted Raspberry Toaster Pastries... or A Sorta Better Pop Tart... that almost made me do a dance, they looked so good to me. I haven't really craved specific foods, but I do want something sweet every now and then and boom! this fit the bill today. Most of the time right now, food is just sort of ho-hum more than anything. I can eat most anything and I'm definitely eating enough (and, I think, a pretty good variety), but if I think about it too long not much sounds awfully appetizing.
between outings, we finished watching the movie version of 'Rent' that M brought home... we'd gotten to talking about it one night, and I tried to describe the waves of excitement some of us in the theatre community experienced when that musical opened back in the early 90s, and why it was a big deal. I think it reads pretty dated now, but it was a new thing to have a show that openly dealt with AIDS and alternative lifestyles as Rent did, and the message of bucking the system, artistic freedom, and seizing the day while you've got it was powerful for a young, emotional actor. I never saw it live - or the movie, for that matter, because I was skeptical of it translating to screen - but I totally owned the original cast recording, and while watching the film I was surprised to remember so many of the lyrics. thought of you, Bethy. have you seen Neil Patrick Harris as Mark try to save Broadway on SNL??? AWEZOME.
I get to go to my meeting tonight and rejoice with my family there in happybabynews. woo-hoo! the only downside to the cold weather is that I can't seem to get my feet warm enough.
-m.y.
Friday, December 4, 2009
in honor of the white stuff...
I'm trying to figure out how to bribe my hubby into watching White Christmas with me again. :)
happy Friday, everyone! and happy birthday, ms. mc d!
Thursday, December 3, 2009
it's a new dawn, it's a new day, it's a new life for me...
go nina!
quite a few things on the dance card today. corporate voice work and another VO gig, then I'm doing a shoot for a teaser for a film being produced locally - the only catch is, the audition was by personal request last week before we'd made it publicly known that we're expecting (so I didn't feel wholly comfortable saying 'oh, you should know that I'm pregnant, just in case that monkeys with any schedule issues or whatever - but don't tell my folks, 'cause they don't know yet), but I figured that since it was shooting this week it wouldn't be a big deal. sooo... one more day of trying to suck in my stomach for them, but after this I'm not playing for anyone else. or if I do, it's with my whole belly.
-m.y.
quite a few things on the dance card today. corporate voice work and another VO gig, then I'm doing a shoot for a teaser for a film being produced locally - the only catch is, the audition was by personal request last week before we'd made it publicly known that we're expecting (so I didn't feel wholly comfortable saying 'oh, you should know that I'm pregnant, just in case that monkeys with any schedule issues or whatever - but don't tell my folks, 'cause they don't know yet), but I figured that since it was shooting this week it wouldn't be a big deal. sooo... one more day of trying to suck in my stomach for them, but after this I'm not playing for anyone else. or if I do, it's with my whole belly.
-m.y.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
december musical shenanigans...
so, whilst driving back to Houston from Dallas tonight, I was shuffling through songs on my iphone (too loud, but that's how I roll) and had such a good time I decided to bring the funk to my blog this month. I know I've been remiss in posting, but for awhile there it felt hard because I couldn't talk about *whisper* 'thepregnancy' *end whisper* yet, and to NOT talk about it seemed weirdly semi-duplicitous, so it was easier to not post much at all. anyhoo, it's all out in the open now, so let's kick off the month with the title track from The Young Machines, an album by Her Space Holiday.
items of note:
I've eaten more junky today and last night than in the rest of the past 11 weeks. yikes, it really does make a huge difference. sorry, baby, I'll do better for both of us.
our little bambino is the size of a fig.
we've bought two - count 'em - two Christmas presents so far.
tomorrow night we have a date to go get the tree!
it's hard to live fully in the present right now... I keep wanting to think ahead and plan...
my sister-in-law is seeing New Moon as I type this... did I mention that, based on the movies alone, I'm totally on Team Jacob? I think it's just because Edward is so hard to translate to film well... and, for me, Bella is profoundly maddening in print or on screen... Jacob gets to be a good, interesting, character-driven dude with personality. and then there's how he's totally gorgeous and all in his boy-werewolfdom - oh, sorry, I'm WAY to mature to think of such shallow things... especially about children so, SO much younger than myself...
but don't get me wrong. Bella and Edward are 4-ever. fated. sealed. done.
I LOVE the stuff with the Volturi.
Mama needs some new books.
I'm thinking of starting the Mark of the Lion series by Francine Rivers. I put the first book on my Christmas List. and I asked for Crazy Love by Francis Chan. I'm currently rereading my well-worn copy of Little Women, and it's like visiting old friends.
husband is singing 'where's my wife' in the other room. must fly to him.
-m.y.
items of note:
I've eaten more junky today and last night than in the rest of the past 11 weeks. yikes, it really does make a huge difference. sorry, baby, I'll do better for both of us.
our little bambino is the size of a fig.
we've bought two - count 'em - two Christmas presents so far.
tomorrow night we have a date to go get the tree!
it's hard to live fully in the present right now... I keep wanting to think ahead and plan...
my sister-in-law is seeing New Moon as I type this... did I mention that, based on the movies alone, I'm totally on Team Jacob? I think it's just because Edward is so hard to translate to film well... and, for me, Bella is profoundly maddening in print or on screen... Jacob gets to be a good, interesting, character-driven dude with personality. and then there's how he's totally gorgeous and all in his boy-werewolfdom - oh, sorry, I'm WAY to mature to think of such shallow things... especially about children so, SO much younger than myself...
but don't get me wrong. Bella and Edward are 4-ever. fated. sealed. done.
I LOVE the stuff with the Volturi.
Mama needs some new books.
I'm thinking of starting the Mark of the Lion series by Francine Rivers. I put the first book on my Christmas List. and I asked for Crazy Love by Francis Chan. I'm currently rereading my well-worn copy of Little Women, and it's like visiting old friends.
husband is singing 'where's my wife' in the other room. must fly to him.
-m.y.
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