5.31.16 - May joy statuses

5.27.16 - Victory

Today I went to a baby shower that had chocolate raspberry cake with fondant icing...and all I had was a Diet Coke.

5.26.16 - Limericks

5.22.16 - Online friends

Today a FB friend of mine posted this:

Right after she posted it a lot of the people she tagged commented, reminiscing about back when we all first "met" and talking about what was going on in their personal lives at the time and how it helped to have so many online friends to talk to.

My personal life was not especially difficult at the time but I still think that experience--constantly debating and thereby becoming good friends with so many people online--really shaped all of my 20s. 

1. I learned a whole lot about certain political topics--way, way more than I would've known had I not debated them.

2. I learned about how my ideological opponents can be actually really lovely people who I get along with fine.

3. I made friendships that have lasted longer than almost any of the friendships I've made IRL have lasted. 

Moreover they are friendships that aren't affected when any of us move or graduate or change jobs, because the online nature of the friendships stays the same. That stability is really nice and probably a major reason these friendships have lasted so long.

Anyway, it was heartwarming and kind of delightful to watch everyone happily commenting under that status. Good friends.

5.21.16 - Gordon Ramsay vs Julia Child

I know I've already included these guys before, probably more than once, but I just love Epic Rap Battles. I listened to the above rap on repeat for probably over 30 mins today while I was working. 

5.19.16 - No calorie counting.

Even though losing weight is one of my joys, taking a day off to eat whatever I like is another. 

First, today after lab I met up with Jack at Pieology for a lunch date. I had to park a couple blocks away, but that was fine because it was nice weather for a walk. I happened to have my flip flops in my backpack so I changed out of my shoed into flip flops and took a stroll to Pieology. When I got there Jack was already in line. At first I thought it was a mistake for us to come during the lunch rush, but it didn't really matter because we just chatted while we waited in line anyway, and we still ended up getting to sit at the tall seats by the windows, which I like.

I got whole wheat dough, pesto, mozarrella and ricotta, olives and double pineapples, and sausage and chicken. That's what I always get. And I always love it. I don't remember what all Jack got except that it included a lot of meat.  And we always order just one fountain drink and keep refilling it. The whole date is pretty cheap.

So we sat at the counter watching people walk by and talking about what we're learning in our respective industries right now and about our plans for the summer and the rest of the year. It was good to spend some focused, unhurried time together. It was also good to eat my entire pizza, mmm.

After lunch we went our separate ways again - him to work, me to Davis to take care of a few errands.

Pic Jack took of me on the walk back to the cars.

I haven't been in Davis on a weekday in a long time. As soon as I got to the FSC I popped into Chris's office and he was so happy to see me. It was nice. I took some candy from his candy jar and we talked about what's been going on with me and Jack and then we talked politics. I made him laugh several times, which is always a great feeling. We both had to go after awhile.

I went over to Davis and chatted on the phone with Sarah while walking from downtown Davis to my thesis chair's office to get a form. It was probably a good 20 or 30 minute walk and a nice chat with her. Then I went back to the FSC, met up with Erin, and we walked to Safeway to get food for Debbie's retirement potluck. We bought some fruit and whipped cream and headed back.

I'm so glad I wasn't trying to calorie count because the potluck was amazing. Lots of fancy cheeses and crackers, lots of baked goods, egg rolls, SUSHI, pasta salad, pink Moscato, ambrosia, oh man. I'm hungry again now just thinking about it.

I chatted a bit with Jeff, some other students, and Chris, again, for awhile. I got to see Julianna, although she seemed pretty busy. I also got to chat quite a bit with Erin, Ryan, and Saxon, and we were making each other laugh at lot at certain points. Erin and Ryan told me about how they both, as children, had accidentally stabbed themselves with pencils and got graphite stuck in their skin. Weirdos. Erin had me laughing really hard with the photobombs she was doing when I took pics of the potluck. I brought Jack a plate of the food when I finally did go home.

Later, at the very end of the night, I topped off my calorie-counting-free day with a PBJ before bed. Worth.

5.18.16 -Coffee table peek a boo

Tonight before bed, Clara played peek a boo with me in the different cubbies of the coffee table (her idea). She was grinning hugely and giggling each time I'd "find" her peeking spot. She even jumped in surprise a few times as I'd pop my head over and say "Hi!!" It was delightful.

Also the other night she brought me Chicka Chicka Boom Boom and she ended up turning to the last page with the ABC's on it, so I would sing it to her. Every time I was done singing she'd make this cooing noise like she was trying to sing too, then she'd grab my hand to piont at the letters to start over. I probably sang her the ABC's 6-7 times just to hear that coo at the end.

5.13.16 - Wedding ring fits.

I've been doing calorie counting bets with both Dad and Kat K., and as of today I've lost enough weight that my wedding ring fits again for the first time since probably the 2nd trimester of my pregnancy, if not earlier. I think I only got to wear it for a couple months after we got married and haven't been able to wear it since. So not only am I happy to be losing weight, I'm particularly happy to be able to wear my ring again. I feel so official. It's been making me happy thinking about it all day!

5.8.16 - Mother's Day

This Mother's Day has been wonderful, pretty much all because of Jack.

I still get up at 6am every day to pump. So he got up at 5:30am to make me breakfast, and it was finished just before I finished pumping, perfect timing. Clara gave us the gift of sleeping in, so Jack and I got to sit together at the table and enjoy cheesy eggs, real bacon, tomato slices and biscuits and orange juice. AND a tiny plate of Symphony bar pieces with toffee chips.

I think we were both pretty tired, and I thought about how a lot of people would expect to sit and find something to talk about. But all I really wanted to do was finish the House episode I had been watching while pumping, and he said he was fine with that. It's kind of fun watching House with him now because since he started nursing school he knows a lot more about the different things they're talking about.

After we finished breakfast Clara was still asleep, so we went back to bed and got a little more sleep ourselves. Later when we did get up, Jack cleaned the apartment, even vaccuuming, and he also took point on most Clara care, like changing diapers. I thought about trying to do more thesis work or paid work, but I decided to treat myself and just spend the day relaxing and working on scrapbooking, which has been really enjoyable. Mostly I had House still playing in the background. I haven't binged watched Netflix in a long time, so that's been fun too.

At some point we Skyped with all of Jack's family, who were all at the Jackson house for Mother's Day. At first Clara was sleepy and quiet, but after while she perked up and started talking a lot and using hand gestures, which they all loved to watch. Dave kept trying to talk back to her in her own langauge--emphatic babble--and then joking about her thinking "Only we [babies] can say that!" etc. It was pretty funny. We had a good visit with them.

Clara went down for a long nap and Jack decided to take a nap too, so I enjoyed some quiet time to myself in my clean apartment just scrapbooking, and it was great. At some point later Jack went into our bedroom to make a phone call, which I didn't even notice until he came out and asked "Did you hear that??" "No." "Good!" Sometime later Jack watched her so I could take a nap too.

Then, in the evening, he cleaned up my whole car and left to pick up some sort of suprise dinner. He came back with a *whole bunch* of sushi. It was delicious.

5.6.16 - Clara "reading" to herself

This made me so happy I couldn't stop grinning the whole time I was filming, and I even almost teared up I felt so proud. What a little smartie!

5.3.16 - So anyway Joys