11.21.11 - Julie is pregnant.

I waited impatiently for work to be finished and then waited somewhat happily/excitedly in rush hour traffic to get to the house and a) see everyone! and b) witness Julie telling them she's pregnant.

When I first arrived Rocket kept staring at me in what appeared to be stunned confusion.  Apparently 19-month-old babies don't remember you from 5 months ago.  But he got over it relatively quick.  Jill has taught him baby hand signals.  He can say "more" and "please" and he uses both of those all the time.  Very adorable.  I did not realize how much babies can understand even when they can't verbally articulate it.  He also uses a sort of high-pitched squeal to say "yes."  As far as actual words, he is getting more comfortable with "Mama," "Dada," "Uh oh," and "Up!"  Slowly.

Meanwhile, Sola is comorftable with all words all the time.  I feel a particular affinity for her because she reminds me so much of me as an 8-year-old.  She actually talks more, but I can appreciate that.  She's also more into kittens than I believe I ever was.  Very sweet girl.  She greeted me wearing a dollar-tree type tiara Ellen had given her, and immediately apologized for not writing me a letter yet, it's just that she's "been very busy."  Like 8-year-olds are.

11.2.11 - November happy

Today:

1) Bosses were out of the office all day, leading to the calm environment needed to catch up on a lot of background projects.  Both relaxing and productive.

2) I had tutoring, which I like more all the time.  The girl finished a chapter of Nancy Drew (a new record) so as a reward I showed her how to make these:

As a bonus, her adorable 5-year-old sister joined us.  We each did one hand print, glued it together, and wrote our names next to our respective hand prints.  They were pretty tickled by this and excited to take the turkey home.  Super cute.

3) I came home to a heated apartment.  It's not that chilly out here but it's just chilly enough to justify a heated apartment, and it was really pleasant to come in to a warm bedroom.  Also, I like the smell of the heater when it's first turned on after not being used in a long while.  Reminds me of DuPre.

4) I had some homemade onion soup with cheddar cheese and Artisan bread.  Delicious.

10.27.11 - Oblivious

So a few weeks ago I started one-on-one tutoring with a 4th grade girl at the local Boys and Girls Club, and so far it’s been really nice.  She is working on reading comprehension, so I’ve been writing out multiple choice questions for her as we read a Nancy Drew book.  I also have her circle any words she doesn’t understand.  One of the words she circles last night was “oblivious.”  I told her it means you don’t know what’s going on, you are unaware.  “For example, if you are asleep, you’re oblivious.  If you are watching TV and you are sucked into the show, you’re oblivious to whatever else is going on around you.”

Normally she reads out loud to me, and she did for most of last night.  However I had to leave early yesterday so, in order to finish the chapter before I left, I read the last couple pages to her.  For those of you who haven’t read Nancy Drew books (shame) every chapter ends in a little cliffhanger.  When I finished this chapter, she got wide-eyed and asked me to keep going.  I told her we could pick it up next week.  She said “But I feel like that word we learned! I’m oblivious!!”

It was the cutest thing, haha.  So proud.

10.2.11 - Jack's Birthday

Many good things happened today:

1) Got to sleep in.  In silence.

2) Beautiful weather.

3) Chocolate chip pancake and turkey sausage "breakfast" (around noon.)

4) Jack got nice bday cards/gifts in the mail.

5) Jack had time to take a nap (he works crazy, long, fluctuating hours so it's good he gets some real rest for a change) while I had time to visit with Neil, whom I hadn't seen in person in several weeks.

6) Jack really liked the robe I got him, and wore it around the house unnecessarily until it was time to go to Berkeley for wall ball. 

7) Lots of great wall ball with good friends during which I got some great footage and got to visit with people when they got out.

8) Hawaiian pizza!  Also other pizza.  Also Riesling, free Starbucks chocolate chip cookies, chicken hearts and Briskit.  Not necessarily in that order.

9) A long back-and-forth (good) Tichu game.

10) Lots of laughs with Neil as we made a few montages of the wall ball footage.

Birthday = Success!

10.2.11

8.27.11 - cafe and BreadCo

This morning Jack and I used a Living Social coupon ($10 for $20 worth of food/drink) at a cafe in Oakland.  We sat in a corner with a small bookshelf that had a bunch of historical books, a small globe, and a Where's Waldo book.  I haven't seen one of those in years.  We enjoyed grilled chicken salads and berry smoothies and talked about the future, which is a new favorite topic of discussion for me.

We went home and cleaned the apartment the boys' apartment is pretty cozy when it's clean.

We went to the only BreadCo in East Bay for lunch.  I opted to get the 250 calorie bowl of French Onion soup instead of the 800 calorie Frontega Chicken Sandwich.  I still had a few bites of Jack's Frontega so I feel it was the best of both worlds.

We've basically taken care of odds and ends the rest of the day.  Goodwill donation.  Preparing some food for a BBQ tomorrow.  Way, way overdue laundry.  Etc.  It's just been really nice for both of us to have a full day off at the same time to relax and spend time together. :)

8.12.11 - Sunshine Fruit Salad

Ingredients
3.4oz instant lemon pudding
20z pineapple chunks in 100% pineapple juice
1 c. quartered strawberries
1 large banana sliced
(Optional) 1 c. mini marshmallows
(Optional) 1 c. chopped walnuts or pecans or whatever you prefer

Directions
1. Drain the pineapple, setting the juice aside
2. Use the juice instead of milk to make the pudding
3. Add all the other ingredients to the pudding and mix

7.24.11 - fishing and a picnic

This morning we made a Safeway run and then Jack made Neil, himself and me sausage and eggs for breakfast.  I enjoyed a lazy hour or two perusing HP fan art (I'm on a kick again, what can I say?) and then we packed a small picnic and the three of us went to Lake Chabot, where Jack and Neil fished and I mostly fed crushed up Harvest Cheddar Sun Chips to some ducks and a goose.  The boys didn't catch anything but we enjoyed the weather and the change of scenery and each other's company.

Jack and I dropped Neil off in the city and then came back to my place where Jack (finally) was able to show me how to change a tire.  It was pretty simple, and I feel all the more comfortable driving knowing I know how and have the right tools.  I really enjoyed it, actually.  I love learning new things, especially when they are so practical.  Next I plan to have him show me how to check all the fluids and car battery and etc.

7.23.11 - Saturday work and a coastal drive

This morning I worked.  I actually really enjoy working Saturdays.  I live very near my work so my commute is only 10 minutes or so, no real traffic.  I get in early on Saturdays and most other people don't show up till around 11am or so, so for the first 2-3 hours I have no distractions at all.  I can also listen to music without worrying about missing someone talking to me.  The other great thing about Saturdays is that if you come in to work Saturday, the firm buys you lunch.  I always get the chicken Caesar salad.  I work until lunch arrives (around noon) and then I leave with my delicious salad and a very cold diet Coke and I go to my beloved bench by the water and enjoy the food and the weather (which is fantastic, much more often than not) and read more of The Wise Man's Fear, a book I am enjoying intensely.  And it's even more fun to do this on Saturdays because instead of taking a half hour and then going back to work the rest of the day into the evening, I just read until my heart's content and then go home or about other business.  Which is exactly what I did yesterday.

I read until Ellen texted me to let me know she was almost to the Millbrae BART station.  I picked her up and we dropped my car off at my place, than went for a nice walk.  We got frozen yogurt (Cookies'n'cream flavor with heath topping) and walked around Burlingame, stopping briefly at a children's playground.  We had a good visit and caught up.  Later we walked to Walgreen's and then stopped by Panda Express as well.  Then we chilled at my place, Ellen reading me bits from a Discover magazine while I worked on my L'abri scrapbook, until Jack got there.

All three of us went to auto zone to buy me jack stands.  Jack was going to show me how to change a tire, but it was such a nice day we decided to put that off and we went for a long drive up the coast.  It got kind of cloudy but it was still really pretty, all the rolling hills dropping off into the ocean.  We drove through a lot of smaller towns advertising saltwater taffy and roadside inns.  It was a strange blend, making me think of CA and parts of MO and parts of MI at the same time.  Eventually we dropped Ellen at home and went back to East Bay.

7.22.11 - HP 7.2

After work Jack and I went to see HP 7.2 for our second time, but this time in 3D.  The 3D added a little bit in some scenes, but so far I find 3D makes the most difference in animated movies.  I was still glad to see it a 2nd time, first of all because this may be the last time I can watch an HP movie in theaters, and secondly because I caught several things I hadn't caught the first time.  Very enjoyable.  

I would like to note, though, that the first night was overall much more fun, not just because we hadn't seen it before, but because the audience was fantastic.  I figure if people are willing to wait fairly long in line to see the movie, they are the more hardcore fans.  This goes along with the fact that when we saw it the first weekend, the audience was very enthusiastic--laughing harder, applauding at the most epic points.  They were also more respectful.  I saw a lot more phones taken out and texting and distractions the 2nd time Jack and I went than the 1st.

After the movie Jack and I came back to my place and fell asleep watching Sorcerer's Stone.  Haha.

6.26.11 - Rocca's

We didn't have a chance to celebrate our anniversary in April but finally, at long last, we went out for it now. Jack looked up different places in downtown San Mateo and landed on the highly rated Rocca's, not knowing I have actually been there before in conjunction with the law firm. But that's fine - the place is delicious and definitely a special date for us.

My martini was called "The Parisian Kiss": chilled vodka, triple sec, fresh lemonade, Chambord.

I ordered crabs stuffed with shrimp over a lemon risotto.

Jack said his dinner was the best fettuccine he's ever had.

6.4.11 - Kitchen cleaning race

Jack's parents were in town.  We were all lounging around Jack's apartment and I mentioned to Jack (possibly multiple times) that he ought to clean out his fridge because it was rotten and gross inside and he responded (possibly multilple times) "Yeah, I will..." and then didn't quite get around to getting off the couch.

After awhile Don, Merlene, Jack and I were planning to go somewhere (I no longer remember where) and I said "I bet I can shower and be ready to go before you can finish cleaning out the fridge."

And then Jack JUMPED UP off the couch and RAN ACROSS THE ROOM to me and PUSHED ME ON THE GROUND!  (He was gentle, it's ok.)  And then he frantically started cleaning out the fridge.  I was laughing so hard I could hardly get up again.

He was pretty smug about how he'd cleaned the fridge (and freezer! (and wiped down all the shelves!!)) waaaay before I finished getting ready.  He sure showed me. :)

5.7.11 - Olive Garden

Jack helped me a *lot* with the stressful process of rushed apartment hunting, but happily at the end of the day I think I found something that will work. To cap it off we decided to get dinner at Olive Garden.

4.23.11 - Bread picnic

Jack learned how to make bread.

It is absolutely delicious.

So we got grapes and tomatos and cheese and stuff and went to find a picnic spot.

We actually drove around for kind of awhile, but it was worth the view when we did land.

4.17.11 - Noodle Theory

It was an overcast day, though not too chilly to sit outside comfortably. We walked from the apartment. Even so, the warm noodle soup was pretty enjoyable.

4.15.11 - Surprise A and a BBQ

Jack was off work!!  He's been working way more than usual lately so it was nice to finally get to spend some time with him.  He drove me to campus and on the way we listened to several On The Rocks songs, which makes a great start to any day.  When he dropped me off I got out of the car right as my history GSI was walking by, and she and I discussed my research paper rough draft, which she believes I should submit for a research scholarship.  Woot!

History discussion was more interesting than usual.  We talked about whether or not the feminist movement of the 1960s/70s had any effects and if so what were they and to what extent.  Flew by.  Then I walked in the gorgeous springtime weather to history lecture where we learned about the background to affirmative action.  It was interesting.  The professor showed this chart about how many more women started getting more Bachelors degrees in traditionally male-dominated fields after Title IX.  I wish she had gone into more detail about how programs readjusted to qualify for Title IX funds; was it quotas or something more subtle?  She also talked about how affirmative action really drove a wedge between the civil rights movement and the labor movement.  I'd never thought about that.  I really enjoy this class.  The professor clearly has her own views but overall I think she does a fairly good job of showing both sides.

Anyway, then I walked through more gorgeous spring weather to my Pchem class, where I dreaded getting my midterm grade back because I was fairly sure I bombed it.  I dreaded it even more after getting to class and learning that the class average for this midterm was even higher than the first midterm, meaning less of a curve, damn.  But THEN I found out that I actually did one point higher than a standard deviation above the average which basically means: A!  Woohoo!!  Maybe I will get straight A's this semester after all, bwahahaha!  I was really excited about that.

Jack picked me up.  Not long after we got home Ellen texted to see if we were busy and she decided to come over and hang out for the day, so that was a pleasant surprise.  We went for a walk and talked, talked, talked.  I picked some more flowers for pressing because why not.  Then there was a lazy evening in between in which Neil, Jack, and eventually even Ellen took naps while I just did some craft-type things.  If I'm not going to get homework done I may as well get something done.

Then Ellen, Jack and I went to Doug's for a bbq and it was very enjoyable.  Brauts, grilled zucchini, artichoke with mayo/soy sauce mix (surprisngly good), Lambrusco.  We met a guy from Minnesota and bonded over midwestern weather and other cultural differences.  He had a good sense of humor.  Super pleasant evening.

3.27.11 - Angeline's

Cool cajun-type decor?

I love the whole atmosphere of this place. Food's pretty good too.

My handsome boyfriend. :)

3.23.11 - Visiting Molly

After Jack got home from work we drove to Santa Rosa to have tomato basil pasta, olive bread and red wine with Joe and Molly (and Eli!).  We then *instructed* them in Tichu, guys v girls, and they picked it up pretty quickly.  More converts.  It was getting too late to finish the game, and the guys were crushing us anyway (695 to 105) so we wrapped up early, but I'm sure there will be future games.

Eli sits in on grown up Tichu.

3.22.11 - Berkeley flowers

Went to campus to listen to my post doc, Chaomin, discuss our research with the rest of the lab.  On the walk home it was getting ready to rain but wasn't raining yet, and it was warm and windy and the clouds were awesome and the weather was generally great.  I decided to pick colored flowers and leaves to press when I get home.  This made the walk take longer but it was much more fun--I never realized how many flowers Berkeley has before.  Hopefully now I'll notice them all the time.

3.19.11 - Rainy day fun

Went to Doug's in the morning to hang out with him and his 6-year-old niece, Ava.  Doug helped her build some sailboats out of tupperware with sticks stuck in candles for masts.  We walked in the light rain a few blocks to a playground with a tiny creek running by.  On the way there Ava's sail fell off her sailboat, so she replaced it with a large pink petal off some flower.  It sort of fell to the bottom of the mast but she seemed satisfied anyway.  Once at the creek she happily raced her and Doug's sailboats while Jack, Doug, and I mostly looked on.  Ava insisted it's "lady's first" and would start her sailboat before Doug's, but it was pretty much a crapshoot who would "win" since the wind kept changing directions.  Still cute to watch.

Made it to the creek, despite the rain.

It started raining a little harder so Jack left to get the car.  Doug, Ava and I played on this rather cool playground.  It included a wooden ship with fish carved along the side, some kind of fort with trees carved in it's walls, and even a building that served as the "General Store", "Bank" and "Saloon" (!).  There were also colored tiles obviously designed by children lining the fence that surrounded the playground.  The whole thing was very pretty.  And very empty, since it was raining.  Ava ran from structure to structure, explaining to us that the ships were blown up by bombs and we needed to sail to Hawaii where it's warm and other such things.  I like asking her questions about what's going on in her make believe story and seeing what she comes up with on the spot.  Also, she has a pretty good evil villain cackle, which she used when she "trapped" Doug and me in a net, apparently.

Eventually she was ready to get out of the cold and wet, so Jack drove all of us to the East Bay Depot for Creative Reuse to pick up supplies to do some rainy day crafts.  Turns out they were having a sale on fabric--$5 for as much fabric as you could stuff in a large grocery bag.  Good lord.  Ava picked out about 5-6 different kinds of pink fabric, Jack picked out patterns he thought would make good patches for some of his clothes, and I picked out colors I like with no specific plans for them.  I'm sure I can come up with something, and with prices that low I'm not going to wait till I have thought of it.  I must've gotten about 20 yards of fabric for $5.  Bwahahaha!  We also bought a few scoops of buttons.

Before we went back to Doug's we stopped by Backesale Betty's for fried chicken sandwiches and chocolate chip cookies, all of which were amazing.

Kid can raise one eyebrow. Nice.

By the time we finished our impromptu lunch at Doug's it was about time for Jack and me to get going with other errands, so I suppose the button crafts with Ava will have to be saved for next time.

After hitting up Safeway Jack and I went back to his apt and I made cookies-n-cream fudge...things.  They were delicious but messy and very rich.  I then spent the afternoon scanning old photos and listening to a random youtube playlist of Sesame St songs, some of which I probably haven't heard since I lived in Folsom.  Jack napped.

Finally Neil, Jack and I packed up some of the cookies-n-cream stuff and went to Dylan and Sarah's for a dinner and Sequence and general visiting.  Jack and Sarah won 3 games of Sequence out of 6 before we all quit.  Fun game--good to play while visiting.

Sequence.

I also enjoyed watching their fancy goldfish keep swimming to the bottom and then floating to the top of his tank.  Apparently some days he gets air bubbles stuck in him and can't stay near the bottom, and then other days he's fine.  Either way it was funny to watch. Weirdo.

Apparently "fancy" Goldfish get bubbles in them and get stuck floating. This fish spent the entire evening struggling to swim near the bottom of the tank, giving up, floating back to the top, and starting over. 

On the way back we stopped at Wal Mart to buy some of the produce they're now selling (woohoo! oranges!)