Tonight, Wiggle and I went to the grocery store to pick up a few missing ingredients for dinner. We left around 5:30 pm, so it was already thoroughly dark. On the way we passed a few houses decorated for Christmas, which I casually pointed out to Wiggle in the backseat. Boy, oh boy, here was nothing casual about it to him. Squeals of delight at each and every house. After the grocery store, he requested "More trees!"
Next week we will take him to this. Do you think he'll like it?
Also, I'm reading Dracula, which is surprisingly creepy, but enjoyable. I guess classics stand-up to time for a reason.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Saturday, December 4, 2010
The Big and Small of It
Recently, I went shopping and discovered a wonderful, yet horrifying fact. I can now fit into regular pants at The Gap and Old Navy. For the last I-don't-know-how-many years, I have been solidly plus-sized in every way and in every brand. So the fact that I can again buy clothes in a regular store after trying them on, instead of sizing them up on the internet, is a personal revelation.
I was overjoyed. And then I was more than a little upset. The pants I was able to put on at The Gap were jeans and as such were sized in jeans' sizes. This means that instead of the vague 10 or, in this case, 20, they were marked with the 28-30-32 type of size. Now, back in olden days of last year or so, these numbers were supposed to correspond to the circumference of your waist in inches. The jeans I was trying on were a 35; let me just break the suspense and say that I do not have a 35 inch waist. This prompted me to go the size chart online which showed that for those with non-plus-sized waists the numbers still correspond to inches, but as the sizes increase, so do the increments of inches between the sizes.
This seemed ridiculous to me. Again, while I'm happy The Gap has deemed that I no longer have to shop at home from my computer with the lights off and the blinds drawn, I think,"just admit you are selling plus-sized clothes already!"
I should say that Old Navy has a plus-sized section that used to be available in stores, but apparently fat people prefer to shop in the shadowy confines of their living rooms, so now plus sizes are only available online. This is unfortunate for me, because on top I am still definitively plus-sized. This will probably continue to be the case until I reach near waif-like proportions since I have been blessed with shoulders only a coxswain could love.
My point is, I'm not sure who they are trying to fool - me? I'm sorry, but I have a fairly realistic picture of my body and just slapping a 35 inch tag on a pair of jeans ain't gonna convince me otherwise; themselves? I think the stores don't want to admit they sell plus-sized clothing so the down-sized labels help them maintain their "image"; Other customers? They are afraid that the cute sized 4 blonde doesn't want to buy the same style of sweater as the fat girl, or at least, she doesn't want to see the fat girl buying it.
On a similiar thread, a couple of weeks ago I heard about a misguided blogger for marie claire who said she didn't like the new CBS show Mike and Molly because she didn't want to see fat people kissing on TV; she didn't even want to see them walking across the room. Don't get me wrong, I am not one of those fat-rights activists who says ridiculous things about how they are just as beautiful and sexy at 300 pounds as they would be at 120 pounds. I am severely overweight, - nay obese, and while I think I am attractive, I'm not stupid. I need to lose weight because my body just isn't made to carry around all this extra weight, and be sure that I know it will make me more attractive to weigh less. I will be more attractive for a myriad of reasons including having more energy, looking and perhaps being taller, feeling the accomplishment of having lost the weight, having clothes fit better, and indeed, being thinner.
All of that being said, we are a nation of fat people and to say you don't want to see someone even walk across a room, for any reason, seems immature, to say the least. I don't want to see a lot of things on TV, but I just change the channel.
In real life, I am generally, quite frankly, too absorbed in my own affairs to spend a lot of time noticing if two "ugly" people are kissing or what-not. Also, it would seem that this idiot blogger was also condemning at least someone she was close to, since the majority of Americans are overweight. Again, I am not saying that we should accept it at a societal level, but on a personal level, we need to be civil, polite, and charitable. Actually at a societal level we need to be all of those things too, but we can also afford to give advice and even admonish a little when called for, and believe me it's called for regarding weight in this country.
Now that I've stepped off of my soapbox, perhaps I will use it to do some step aerobics and burn some extra calories.
In Wiggle news - We were at the mall on Friday night trying to wear out the boy indoors. While waiting for an elevator in Macy's, a man was looking at Christmas pj's for his still infant baby. The wife who was pushing the stroller with the little bambino said to the husband "Mikey, no. We're done." As we all got on the elevator a moment later, Wiggle looked pointedly at the husband and said "Mikey! Nooooo!" And the sound of disappointment and censure in his voice was unmistakable. We all nervously laughed and spent the rest of the ride looking interestedly at our shoes. I think it was our first incident of being embarrassed at something he said.
Later that evening, on the way home, we saw a truck on our street delivering our new trash bins. About half on hour later, they had gotten to our end of the street, and we heard a rumbling from outside. Wiggle and I were snuggling on the couch, and I said "Did you hear that? I think there's a monster outside." I was thinking it would peak his interest, and then we would go to the window to see what it was. Nope. Wiggle looked at me like I was daft and said "gar-bage," while nodding vigorously. I nodded back at him, but held out hope. "You don't think it's a monster out there? You think it's the garbage cans?" He thought for a moment and then said "Wheels. Rolling. Make noise." Then I cried a little. How can such a little boy be so jaded?
I was overjoyed. And then I was more than a little upset. The pants I was able to put on at The Gap were jeans and as such were sized in jeans' sizes. This means that instead of the vague 10 or, in this case, 20, they were marked with the 28-30-32 type of size. Now, back in olden days of last year or so, these numbers were supposed to correspond to the circumference of your waist in inches. The jeans I was trying on were a 35; let me just break the suspense and say that I do not have a 35 inch waist. This prompted me to go the size chart online which showed that for those with non-plus-sized waists the numbers still correspond to inches, but as the sizes increase, so do the increments of inches between the sizes.
This seemed ridiculous to me. Again, while I'm happy The Gap has deemed that I no longer have to shop at home from my computer with the lights off and the blinds drawn, I think,"just admit you are selling plus-sized clothes already!"
I should say that Old Navy has a plus-sized section that used to be available in stores, but apparently fat people prefer to shop in the shadowy confines of their living rooms, so now plus sizes are only available online. This is unfortunate for me, because on top I am still definitively plus-sized. This will probably continue to be the case until I reach near waif-like proportions since I have been blessed with shoulders only a coxswain could love.
My point is, I'm not sure who they are trying to fool - me? I'm sorry, but I have a fairly realistic picture of my body and just slapping a 35 inch tag on a pair of jeans ain't gonna convince me otherwise; themselves? I think the stores don't want to admit they sell plus-sized clothing so the down-sized labels help them maintain their "image"; Other customers? They are afraid that the cute sized 4 blonde doesn't want to buy the same style of sweater as the fat girl, or at least, she doesn't want to see the fat girl buying it.
On a similiar thread, a couple of weeks ago I heard about a misguided blogger for marie claire who said she didn't like the new CBS show Mike and Molly because she didn't want to see fat people kissing on TV; she didn't even want to see them walking across the room. Don't get me wrong, I am not one of those fat-rights activists who says ridiculous things about how they are just as beautiful and sexy at 300 pounds as they would be at 120 pounds. I am severely overweight, - nay obese, and while I think I am attractive, I'm not stupid. I need to lose weight because my body just isn't made to carry around all this extra weight, and be sure that I know it will make me more attractive to weigh less. I will be more attractive for a myriad of reasons including having more energy, looking and perhaps being taller, feeling the accomplishment of having lost the weight, having clothes fit better, and indeed, being thinner.
All of that being said, we are a nation of fat people and to say you don't want to see someone even walk across a room, for any reason, seems immature, to say the least. I don't want to see a lot of things on TV, but I just change the channel.
In real life, I am generally, quite frankly, too absorbed in my own affairs to spend a lot of time noticing if two "ugly" people are kissing or what-not. Also, it would seem that this idiot blogger was also condemning at least someone she was close to, since the majority of Americans are overweight. Again, I am not saying that we should accept it at a societal level, but on a personal level, we need to be civil, polite, and charitable. Actually at a societal level we need to be all of those things too, but we can also afford to give advice and even admonish a little when called for, and believe me it's called for regarding weight in this country.
Now that I've stepped off of my soapbox, perhaps I will use it to do some step aerobics and burn some extra calories.
In Wiggle news - We were at the mall on Friday night trying to wear out the boy indoors. While waiting for an elevator in Macy's, a man was looking at Christmas pj's for his still infant baby. The wife who was pushing the stroller with the little bambino said to the husband "Mikey, no. We're done." As we all got on the elevator a moment later, Wiggle looked pointedly at the husband and said "Mikey! Nooooo!" And the sound of disappointment and censure in his voice was unmistakable. We all nervously laughed and spent the rest of the ride looking interestedly at our shoes. I think it was our first incident of being embarrassed at something he said.
Later that evening, on the way home, we saw a truck on our street delivering our new trash bins. About half on hour later, they had gotten to our end of the street, and we heard a rumbling from outside. Wiggle and I were snuggling on the couch, and I said "Did you hear that? I think there's a monster outside." I was thinking it would peak his interest, and then we would go to the window to see what it was. Nope. Wiggle looked at me like I was daft and said "gar-bage," while nodding vigorously. I nodded back at him, but held out hope. "You don't think it's a monster out there? You think it's the garbage cans?" He thought for a moment and then said "Wheels. Rolling. Make noise." Then I cried a little. How can such a little boy be so jaded?
Friday, December 3, 2010
Back in the Saddle
I was out for the count yesterday again because of a cold/fever. Wiggle was out too, but he seemed to be a lot more energetic than I was. Today we both seem to have recovered well. I managed to get the entryway clean the other night.
There's still some work to do to get it really organized, but at least it's functional now. I also have sorted some of the insurance stuff, and done some other onerous tasks on my to-do list. An unpleasant surprise came in the mail today though. I went to the dentist two weeks ago and had three very small cavities filled. It turns out I went to the wrong dentist (similar practice names on the same street), and this one isn't in our network. The dental work didn't hurt at all, but OUCH! the bill. It will be ok, and I'm going to try to talk to them to see if they can lower the cost at all, but man-oh-man this is a mistake that makes me feel stupid. I just hate stuff like that.
I also managed to go to the gym today for a good run and get some Christmas shopping done. I'm feeling a little better and my thoughts are already turning to decorating the house this weekend.
Oh, and we got wellies for Wiggle last weekend, and he had his first opportunity to wear them this week.
I also got to cook my first post-Thanksgiving dinner tonight. (We were done with Thanksgiving food earlier obviously, but we grazed on random pantry items and got take-out the past couple of nights) I made a new favorite a quinoa Moroccan stew.
I still have a lot to do, but it feels more manageable today than earlier this week. I can't believe tomorrow is Friday.
I also managed to go to the gym today for a good run and get some Christmas shopping done. I'm feeling a little better and my thoughts are already turning to decorating the house this weekend.
Oh, and we got wellies for Wiggle last weekend, and he had his first opportunity to wear them this week.
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| They have sharks on them. |
I still have a lot to do, but it feels more manageable today than earlier this week. I can't believe tomorrow is Friday.
Monday, November 29, 2010
Lonely
I'm having a bad case of the Mondays today. Every year near the holidays, while I certainly spend my time spreading holiday cheer, I get a little grumpy that I'm not closer to my family. This year I'm a little more grumpy because we aren't near friends or family. When I went to the gym tonight, even my Pandora stations were conspiring against me. There were no fewer than three references to Chicago in live versions of songs, and one mention of Dallas.
I also have a lot of annoying things to do. For example, I have to follow up with our health insurance about some claims which will mean several long confusing phone calls to find out what tiny step I have to take to fix the confusing issue. I have to change our address with a couple of rarely used bank accounts which will involve sending an actual letter out, which will mean a trip to the post office for stamps. I have to get the oil changed on the car. I hate these kinds of tasks. They always take longer than you think they will, and sometimes you are not even sure when you are finished with them completely.
In the house, I want to decorate the front porch and clean the entryway. This is what greets me in the entryway right now.
I also have a lot of annoying things to do. For example, I have to follow up with our health insurance about some claims which will mean several long confusing phone calls to find out what tiny step I have to take to fix the confusing issue. I have to change our address with a couple of rarely used bank accounts which will involve sending an actual letter out, which will mean a trip to the post office for stamps. I have to get the oil changed on the car. I hate these kinds of tasks. They always take longer than you think they will, and sometimes you are not even sure when you are finished with them completely.
In the house, I want to decorate the front porch and clean the entryway. This is what greets me in the entryway right now.
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| Stepping over this box every day is the current bane of my existence |
I have had emptying that box on my to-do list since we moved in, but every day I just step over or around it. Tomorrow, I will face the horror that is the box and clean up the junk that is accumulating down there.
Things just seem to keep piling up right now faster than I am getting things done. I need a time vacation.
On a positive note, I ran outside on Saturday and Sunday nights, first with Wiggle and then by myself. It felt really good, and I went as fast as I do on the treadmill, which was surprising since it's definitely harder outside. Tonight, I went to the gym and ran for 10 minutes, but then got on the stair climber for 15 minutes. I hate the stupid stair climber because it's sooo boring and I'm a little afraid that I will fall off, but I'm doing it to help build up the muscles in my knees, and I think it's helping. I've gotten over some hump with my running so that it's easier and more fun right now. I think I need to look for a couple of races to sign-up for now because I feel like I can actually train for a race now.
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Thanksgiving
Our first Thanksgiving in Virginia was a success. It was just the three of us, but we had a lovely meal and a lovely day.
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| Wiggle helping C stir the brining solution |
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| The big, beautiful bird |
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| A little Thanksgiving day drama |
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| My handsome boy |
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| Enjoying dinner with a real wine glass (with a little soda and water) |
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| A good dinner is always followed by some block building |
After dinner we watched Toy Story 3 and snuggled on the couch. Then we took a walk around the neighborhood at Wiggle's request. He was a little disappointed when there weren't other kids out and about at 7:30 pm, but we still had a nice walk. The little boy didn't even make it upstairs before he was asleep in Daddy's arms.
C and I enjoyed some pumpkin pie and a little more of the wine from the winery that shares my last name. All in all a good day.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Holiday Plans
We did most our shopping today for the Big Meal later this week. I still have to get the turkey tomorrow, and find pearl onions and ginger preserves, and get the liquor. Shoot, I guess there's more left than I thought. Luckily, I get a block of time tomorrow without the boy to navigate the horror that is the grocery store the week of Thanksgiving.
We will be doing the same meal that C and I have been doing every year for the past (gulp) fourteen years. We've cooked for hoards of friends and family; we've cooked for a few close friends; we've cooked at our own house and at others' houses. It's always funny to me the hype surrounding this mythical meal. At a playgroup last week, everyone was complaining how long it took to cook a turkey. Most of them weren't hosting their own Thanksgivings, and for that they gave thanks, because they had an outdated idea that they'd have to wake up at 5 am to deal with the bird. I said that my turkey is always done in under 3 hours, which, I'm pretty sure, made them think I am a witch, or that I like to eat raw bird. I will start my food prep on Tuesday evening, and will have knocked out all but the onions, brussel sprouts, and bird before Thursday. It will still seem hectic, but it will also seem comfortable and familiar, like the holidays should. It will be harder too this year, with the Tasmanian Devil that is Wiggle underfoot in the kitchen, but hey, this is why I've been training all these years, right?
I know that holidays are stressful in many ways, but I intend to and do enjoy my holidays. I make sure to sip a glass of Dubonnet with a twist, just as my mother sometimes did while cooking. I make enough food to ensure leftovers, which also means a few days of minimal cooking for the days following the holiday. I spend time with my family playing games or snuggled up watching movies. I do not participate in the madness that is Black Friday. I start daydreaming about Christmas and singing carols loudly and with much enthusiasm. I am a person who loves the holidays both in theory and in practice, and I hope I am able to teach Wiggle to practice loving the holidays too.
We will be doing the same meal that C and I have been doing every year for the past (gulp) fourteen years. We've cooked for hoards of friends and family; we've cooked for a few close friends; we've cooked at our own house and at others' houses. It's always funny to me the hype surrounding this mythical meal. At a playgroup last week, everyone was complaining how long it took to cook a turkey. Most of them weren't hosting their own Thanksgivings, and for that they gave thanks, because they had an outdated idea that they'd have to wake up at 5 am to deal with the bird. I said that my turkey is always done in under 3 hours, which, I'm pretty sure, made them think I am a witch, or that I like to eat raw bird. I will start my food prep on Tuesday evening, and will have knocked out all but the onions, brussel sprouts, and bird before Thursday. It will still seem hectic, but it will also seem comfortable and familiar, like the holidays should. It will be harder too this year, with the Tasmanian Devil that is Wiggle underfoot in the kitchen, but hey, this is why I've been training all these years, right?
I know that holidays are stressful in many ways, but I intend to and do enjoy my holidays. I make sure to sip a glass of Dubonnet with a twist, just as my mother sometimes did while cooking. I make enough food to ensure leftovers, which also means a few days of minimal cooking for the days following the holiday. I spend time with my family playing games or snuggled up watching movies. I do not participate in the madness that is Black Friday. I start daydreaming about Christmas and singing carols loudly and with much enthusiasm. I am a person who loves the holidays both in theory and in practice, and I hope I am able to teach Wiggle to practice loving the holidays too.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like...
CHRISTMAS!
Tonight we went to Fairfax Corner for their tree lighting ceremony. Wiggle was blown away by the huge tree. I thought it would feel to early for Christmas stuff, but with a tree obsessed toddler in tow, listening to Christmas carols and seeing Santa the week before Thanksgiving felt perfectly natural.
We walked around the shops and got the obligatory, oops, I mean complimentary, Santa hat.
We also went on a carriage ride around the square. For some reason I totally forgot to take any pictures of the horses or the carriage, but here are a couple of us on the ride.
And the best shot...
It was a blast. Afterward, we went to Potbelly where Wiggle scarfed down half a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and some vanilla malt. He was in heaven. Santa was there, but we felt that after the carriage ride, it would just be too much to stand in line again. Plus, we kind of need to do a Santa primer for Wiggle, because as of now, he has no idea who he is. It's going to be so fun. I can't believe how excited I am about Christmas stuff now. I mean, I have always liked Christmas a lot, so I didn't really know that I could be more into it.
We walked around the shops and got the obligatory, oops, I mean complimentary, Santa hat.
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| Trust me, Wiggle and I are looking at the rear ends of two huge horses |
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| Wiggle, not psyched about pictures, because it interfered with horse watching |
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| Our first Christmas family photo |
Yesterday, C and I went out for Ethiopian food in Alexandria. (Can I mention how much I love swapping babysitting with our neighbors?) The place, Enat, was in a small strip mall, and if we didn't know we were going there, we would never have stopped there on our own. It was delicious. Definitely the best Ethiopian I've ever had. The place was small, but nice, and very friendly. We were the only non-Ethiopians in the restaurant the entire time, I think. I will definitely go back.
On the way home, C and I decided to drive through Arlington for a bit to look at neighborhoods. We drove through some amazing old neighborhoods with streets that had names like Vacation Lane. The houses were beautiful and so expensive I would have start printing my own money now to be able to afford one ten years from now. It was nice to look though, and we enjoyed just driving around a different area of NoVa. I can't believe we are getting to go out so frequently right now. It will probably drop off around the holidays because everyone's schedules fill up, but right now, it feels fantastic.
Tomorrow, the boy gets a tree for his room. I can hardly wait.
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