Naturally Optimistic

Yesterday I had a date with me. I have done this 3 times now since Dahlia was born - and it all centers around my dentist appointment. Exciting, no? I HATE the dentist. But I go religiously because the thought of something "going wrong" and me needing "work" done is absolutely terrifying to me. My dentist(s) rock - they are up to date with technology (even had digital x-rays done yesterday) and my hygienist is GENTLE and I love having the feeling of clean teeth - so my anti-dentite stand comes not from them, but Mr. Old School No Personality Dentist that I had as a kid. (who incidentally my mother worked for). Anyway - my reward for going to the dentist like a good girl is to eat at Arby's afterwards - because 1)it's right there and my appointments are always around lunchtime; 2) I like roast beef fast food sandwiches 3) I almost NEVER eat fast food; - So it's my "treat." I learned in college to always reward yourself in some simple way for doi...

Me! And Dahlia! and Steve! We need to change how we put Dahlia to bed. That is a major problem. Steve usually does the bedtime routine which includes giving her a bottle in her room - and a lot of times they fall asleep. Obviously putting a sleeping baby in a crib is NOT recommended. And that's what's been happening. So....we're trying really hard to put her down awake...which is tough because she falls asleep fast (just like her Mama!). On Monday we tried but she fell asleep too quickly (and we had a miserable night)...last night she went into her crib still awake, cried for about 5 minutes and that was it. I'm probably jinxing it by talking about it...but I had to share the good news. I would hope it becomes a trend.

Yesterday at ECFE I mentioned that Dahlia still refuses to sleep - and after we all talked a little, the entire class was devoted to talking about how Dahlia is the non-sleeper. (it was a little embarrassing actually). Dahlia slept through the night on Sunday night which was such an anomaly I knew it wouldn't last. And it didn't. So at class I told them that Dahlia wakes up lately between 1:30 and 2 and cries, no SCREAMS, for an hour or longer. We haven't been going in there....we're at wit's end. Well, until last night. We have been really good and just letting her CIO and it hasn't been *too bad* because usually after an hour or so shes quiets down. Last night - no such luck. She SCREAMED! Screamed her head off for and hour and a half. Steve had already gotten up and gone in there (much to my chagrin!!!!!) and that didn't help and after another 45 minutes or so I couldn't take it any more, and Steve was getting super pissed because he hadn't slept ...

Just sold my SUPER CRAPPY coffee table for $20. Ha! This is great. Now I'm wandering around the house wondering what else I can take pictures of and sell. Way easier than having a garage sale.

7:30 - Oscars begin. Fabulous lights on stage. Nice. I've just poured my 2nd glass of boxed wine, I'm sitting in my "knitting is knotty" t-shirt and unmatching purple vikings flannel pants. Hugh Jackman is hot. 7:41 - I very much enjoyed the opening number. But then again I think Hugh Jackman is hot. so......I particularly enjoyed Anne Hathaway getting up on stage. How fun. I am jealous. 7:47 - The Oscar goes to... Penelope Cruz...I have to say, I'm not sure how I'll like this format throughout (various previous winners introducing the nominees), but I'm in tears during this first one. But that could be because of a whole other slew of reasons. Like, why aren't I THERE yet? Why am I sitting in flannel pants surrounded by Elmos & flowers that play music and Horton (who hears a Who?)? *sigh* I am emotional. It will be a long night. 7:49pm - btw, I don't think I've seen any movies, but I'm adding them to my Netflix queue as I watch. I am a...

I don't feel like cooking or cleaning up afterwards. I don't feel like dealing with a whiny non-sleeping baby. I don't feel like wiping up the floor after she throws her food off her tray. I don't feel like sweeping the kitchen. I don't feel like doing more laundry. I don't feel like picking up books. I don't feel like washing the dishes. I don't feel like making the rice krispie bars I said I was going to. I don't feel like doing ANYTHING. Hmph.

Well, I finally posted our dining room table & chairs on Craigslist on Wednesday night. I had about 8 responses within 24 hours! I just sold it to the 2nd responder for asking price - no haggling at all. Whohoooo! We ALMOST have room to park one car in the garage. Yay! Now I'm looking for other things around the house to sell....

So March is going to be full of travel for me.... Fargo Austin, TX and now - FLORIDA! We've decided to join Steve's Mom & her SO at their condo for a week. It is a cheap vacation for us - we used our frequent flyer miles for plane tickets, they're driving so they're going to pick us up at the airport (no need for a rental car) and since we're staying with them at their condo - no hotel costs! We just figured when are we going to get such a cheap vacation? Plus it's a nice two bedroom two bath condo that it'll be *easy* to have Dahlia at. There's a pool, it's a block from the beach....and since they're driving we can *hopefully* load them up with a pack & play, high chair, jogger (?) etc. And we'll have built-in babysitters if we want to do something sans baby. We honeymooned here in 2006 and it was one of the most relaxing vacations I can remember. Of course it'll be different this time but I think it's definitely something we...

If you're in town, come and check us out and get your very own copy of WHITE MAN'S WORLD! Tonight! 5-8pm Red Star (in Fitgers) DVDs for sale - $20 (also pick up Newton's Disease & God Rocked!) Hope to see you there.

Someone has the sniffles in our household which has prompted much wiping of a little nose today. Hmph. I hope this doesn't turn into a full blown cold!

Jason's cat Bob is very sick. He was lethargic yesterday; Jason couldn't get him out from under his bed (Jason had a friend stay visiting whom Bob DOES NOT LIKE - so it's not unusual for him to hide) and when he did poor Bob peed all over the floor. Jason was up with him all night - said his breath was "hitching" and he would just lay on the floor looking sad. Wouldn't eat. Wouldn't drink. Wouldn't sleep. Jason took him to the vet this morning and the prognosis is not good. Initially the vet thought maybe a sudden onset of asthma but after several tests, they find out it's his heart. Poor Bob. This kitty is HUGE and so friendly and so vocal and just a great cat. I am very sad for Jason because if it is a heart condition or disease, well, there's really nothing that can be done. Please send any extra good vibes your way to Bob & Jason today. :( (ps- Bob is only 6 years old!) UPDATE - Wednesday, 8am It's not Bob's heart, possibly pneu...

So I got a new cookbook for Valentine's Day! I'm so excited because I've wanted Deceptively Delicious for a while now and my hinting must've paid off! Because I'm really needing to slim down and bit and eat healthier in general, I thought - why not try these recipes? Why not start eating more veggies, more fiber, less saturated fats - why not now? Dahlia has no problem eating veggies right now, but I know that will most likely change so - hey, let's start some good habits now. So yesterday was my puree day! I headed to the store and set out to make up a bunch of purees for the week. A chance to play with the food processor - whohoooo! I started by roasting butternut squash. It smelled delicious. I kind of just wanted to eat it! While the squash was roasting & baked some chocolate chip cookies - healthy ones! No butter (trans-fat free smart balance), no egg yolks, but chick peas! Crazy. They turned out really good. We actually really loved them. Carrie - 1. ...

We've had this box of wine in the fridge for ages...we didn't really like it all that well, but every once in a while we'd pour a half a glass just to try to drink it down. No use in WASTING wine, after all. So it was almost gone and then my folks came up. My Mom informed me that she finished the box of wine - there was probably only a glass or so left in it, so they REPLACED it for us. With the same wine. *sigh* so now we have a BRAND NEW box of the wine we didn't like in the first place. I think it is incredibly thoughtful & generous of them to REPLACE a box of wine when they were babysitting OUR daughter for FREE for the whole weekend...but I just wish it was a different kind, that's all. Anyone want a glass of wine?

"Valentine greetings were popular as far back as the Middle Ages (written Valentine's didn't begin to appear until after 1400), and the oldest known Valentine card is on display at the British Museum. The first commercial Valentine's Day greeting cards produced in the U.S. were created in the 1840s by Esther A. Howland. Howland, known as the Mother of the Valentine, made elaborate creations with real lace, ribbons and colorful pictures known as 'scrap.'" -- The History Channel

I think Kate's idea was great - get some postcard stamps, throw some postcards in my purse and send them willy nilly to people to let them know I'm thinking of them. So that's what I did. I bought 20 postcard stamps (just enough to BARELY get started) and threw some in my purse and we'll see what happens. Basically if you know me and I have your address, you can probably expect a TOTALLY RANDOM postcard from me at some point. Don't say I didn't warn you. I'm outta here. Steve & I are off for 2 NIGHTS AWAY sans baby which means 2 NIGHTS OF SLEEP (because let me tell you, after about 5 nights of GOOD in a row, last night SUCKED ASS). We are going up the shore to drink wine in our jacuzzi suite, ski the trails of the north shore, eat pizza & drink wine (did I mention that?). Later!

Have you ever found out something about someone that was truly shocking? That truly made you really question motives all along? Wonder how said actions (now brought to light) will affect your future? Wondering how you can ever look at that person the same way again? *sigh* On the precipice of something really cool being worked out, it goes up in flames.

I am a paper fanatic. Seriously. I have an issue. I love paper. I love lots of different kinds of paper. My current addiction is patterned paper which I usually get as gifts in huge "stacks" and love love love. I use them for making cards, for scrapbooking, you get the idea. My past addictions have been note cards (okay, this addiction still addicts) and I should be banned from entering the "dollar spot" at Target. They always suck me in with their cute $1 note cards! I love to write letters but I write so few these days that it seems silly. But I love them. I love LOVE them. Another past addiction...postcards. Someone PLEASE stop me from buying any postcards on my next trip unless I'm planning on MAILING them. Sheesh. I have postcards...don't laugh...from 1976. I'm not kidding. NOT KIDDING. WTF? I have great ideas about sending them to people as thoughtful little notes and then I don't. I still think it would be fun...but then I don't do it. I a...

Okay, I was recently turned on to Hulu and I am already addicted. I may be kissing my cable subscription goodbye sooner than I think!

(from www.helenjane.com ) The first five people who comment here will get something I make. A little mid-winter pay-it-forward action which I lifted from Helen Jane's website... Anyone wanna play? The only real rule is that you have to make this offer in your own web log.

I've had this one for almost 5 years! I'm jealous of Kate's new design . I need help. Any takers?

So I've heard that the CIO method should work pretty fast...as in 3 nights or so. Well...yeah, it's not working that great for us. I suspect it's because I can't take it any more by about 5am and go and get her and bring her back for some snuggle time. I'm sure I'm screwing it/her up but I'm at wit's end. Last night was okay. She slept pretty much all night. I think I heard her a couple times but just let her cry...it was her sort of pissed off cry (because i'm not going in there). But not SCREAMING like it has been some nights. Saturday night she was PISSED and SCREAMED for a full hour. I felt bad because my sister was visiting and the ONE NIGHT she gets away from her screaming children she had to listen to mine. Nice. Anyway - she cried from 5am to 6am this morning when I finally got up, gave her a bottle (yeah, I know, that should stop too) and we went back to bed. So I've been trying to get her to take naps in her crib when I'm home (like...

Here Dahlia, just play with the mustard.

Perhaps if I just keep bitching enough I'll get what I want.... GOD ROCKED just took 2nd place (honorable mention) in the narrative feature category for the 2009 Fargo Film Festival! YEEEE-HAW! The email that they sent was incredibly kind & complimentary and I think we get hooked up with accommodations & travel.....now to find a(nother) babysitter for a week in March! egads!!

The problem with submitting to a butt-load of festivals in the fall/early winter is that all of the rejections come around the same time, stacked one upon another....2 more between yesterday's post and this morning. Lovely. PS - ha! I just was typing in the labels, and instead of typing "filmmaking" I typed "failmaking" - Freudian slip?

So we were just rejected from Vail which is pretty harsh since WE KNOW THE PEOPLE WHO RUN THE FESTIVAL. If you can't get in that way, I'm not sure HOW you get in. It's getting old. I'm losing my umph.

Need I say more? ahhhhhh....babies....