Today I need to do something that I absolutely do NOT want to do. I am dreading it more than anything else in life right now. I am genuinely scared. This fear is so irrational that it is ridiculous.
There are a lot of things I am afraid of. I'm not ashamed to admit that even as a grown adult, I am mortified of spiders, I am scared of throwing up and will do anything to avoid it, and I am also afraid of the dark. Seriously. But this thing I have to do doesn't fall into any of those categories, and I have been trying to talk myself into doing it all day--well, since yesterday, actually.
I hate calling people that I don't know. HATE IT. It scares the bajeezus out of me.
Today, I need to make a phone call to a Master Chief--someone who is 3 pay-grades above me, which makes this even more intimidating. To make matters worse, I need to call him and ask him to do something for me. (I also HATE asking for help, especially from strangers.) The thing I need him to do is very simple and trivial, and I'm sure he gets asked to do it a few times a month, maybe even once a week.
But this is SO scary for me. I'm hoping that by writing this, I can work up the courage to just get it over with. Putting it off just makes it sit in the back of my mind like a dark, angry storm cloud, just building strength the longer I wait. I know I will feel better once I just get this taken care of.
But I don't WANT TO!!
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Stuck in a Rut
I've always been a Routine kind of person. It probably has something to do with my OCD. Routines fit nicely with my compulsive list-making, obsessive organizing, and sick love of office supplies. Last night both my purple pen and my aqua pen decided to die during class and I seriously stressed about how I was going to make it through class. It's sick, really, but I'll spare you any more specifics about my neurosis.
Lately, I take very little comfort in my routines. They are actually starting to stress me out. My routines remind me of him. Several of my routines were built around my e-mail schedule. I don't e-mail him anymore, but everything else has stayed the same. My routines just remind me that nothing is the same anymore. Gotta love irony. It's depressing. The worst part is that I have no idea how to change things up. I know in a few weeks I will be going home and that will definitely shake things up. I really feel like I need to change something before then.
I don't know how. I don't know a lot of things right now. I created this rut, and now I have no idea how to climb out of it.
Anyone else stuck in a rut?
Lately, I take very little comfort in my routines. They are actually starting to stress me out. My routines remind me of him. Several of my routines were built around my e-mail schedule. I don't e-mail him anymore, but everything else has stayed the same. My routines just remind me that nothing is the same anymore. Gotta love irony. It's depressing. The worst part is that I have no idea how to change things up. I know in a few weeks I will be going home and that will definitely shake things up. I really feel like I need to change something before then.
I don't know how. I don't know a lot of things right now. I created this rut, and now I have no idea how to climb out of it.
Anyone else stuck in a rut?
29 Weeks
29 Weeks.
Total weight gain/loss:
23 Pounds.
Gender:
It's a Girl!! Macy Jane. I decided the other day.
Size of baby:
Macy weighs about 2.5 pounds. She is about the size of a butternut squash, and is about 15 inches from head to heel.
Maternity clothes?
I am running out of shirts! I can't wait for it to warm up so I can wear dresses. Still sticking with the yoga pants and my 2 pair of maternity jeans.
Stretch marks?
Just on my chest so far. More troubling are the spider veins...but I started getting those about 5 years ago. Thanks, genetics.
Sleep:
Some nights I sleep well, some nights I have bad dreams. I have been taking naps more frequently, which helps.
Best moment this week:
Going through all of her stuff to get a feel for what I still need to buy. The worst moment was my Rhophylac shot today!! She just KEPT.PUSHING.THE.PLUNGER. It felt like MINUTES it took her to inject all of it. My ass is still sore.
Movement:
All the time. The other day I learned what a Fetal Kick Count is. I'm supposed to feel for her movements and count 10 in an hour. Not every hour, but about once a day during the time she is most active. Last night I made it to 10 movements in about 5 minutes. She does not like it when I hunch over forward. She let me know that today by kicking me right in the ribs. She is still most active at night. I love feeling her kick as I fall asleep.
Food cravings:
None this week. I haven't even wanted to eat after last Tuesday.
Symptoms:
Frequent trips to the bathroom, swollen ankles, night-time leg cramps. Also general discomfort as it gets harder for me to get around.
Belly Button: in or out?
Still in.
Rings: on or off?
Off.
What I miss:
Wine, bending over, going more than an hour without a bathroom break.
What I am looking forward to:
Getting the hell out of Virginia for 6 weeks.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Prayer Monday
I'm going to be selfish today. I know that God will forgive me for coveting prayers--he is well aware of how much I need them right now.
Last Tuesday was, without a doubt, the worst day of my life. I'm not even being dramatic or exaggerating. Last Tuesday I got a phone call that brought my life as I know it to a screeching halt. Last Tuesday I found out the man I love, the man I thought I was building my life with, has been lying to me. FOR YEARS, he has been lying to me. I am moving toward accepting that he is no longer a part of my life, but it is an up-hill battle.
Every day has become a struggle. I'm just trying to remember to take things one day at a time and to trust that God will carry me through this.
Prayer Requests:
1. I need help. I need strength. I need God to carry me through this when I am not strong enough to stand--which seems like most of the time right now. I need to have faith that God is bigger than this terrible situation, and he will make something good out of it. I just need Him right now.
2. Spencer's allergies are out of control this year. It is hard for me to see him so miserable and know that there is very little I can do to make him feel better. He has been there for me through so much, and I just wish I could stop his itching and make him comfortable.
3. Let Macy continue to grow and develop the way she is supposed to. It is very difficult for me to eat and sleep right now. If it weren't for her, I can honestly say I probably wouldn't have eaten in nearly a week. I force myself because of her, but I have still lost 3 pounds in the last week. I need God to protect her and give her what she needs, even when I don't feel like I am able to provide it for her.
Prayer:
Lord, I need you right now. Many mornings I wake up and I have no idea how I will make it through the day. Please make your presence known to me. Remind me that you are strong and powerful. Remind me to cling to you instead of trying to make it on my own. I know you are so much bigger than what I am going through, and I just ask you to please help me. Remind me that I am not alone in this.
Amen.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Wednesday Hodgepodge
I like sitting outside on my porch, or walking. I have been enjoying walking outside lately instead of walking a the mall.
2. Who would you want to come into your kitchen to cook dinner for you?
I would say Chef Anne Burrell if we're talking celebrities, and Casey if we're talking real-life people.
3. When did you last fly a kite?
I have no idea. I actually think the last time might have been back in like 1998 or 1999. I remember going to the elementary school up the street and flying a kite sometime around then.
4. What topic puts you to sleep faster than anything?
Politics! I don't understand politics. I don't want to understand politics. I hate politics.
5. Which flowers do you associate with specific people, places, or events?
Peonies remind me of summer time at the house where I grew up, along with purple coneflowers and lilacs.
6. What significant historical events took place during your elementary school days?
The one I specifically remember was Operation Desert Storm. I remember hearing at school about Sadam Hussein invading Kuwait. We also had a bumper sticker on the car that said "We Support Desert Storm Troops." I remember the OJ trial, because I thought it was really silly that his parents named him after orange juice. The Bill Clinton-Monica Lewinsky scandal happened I think when I was a freshman. I was a senior in Mr. Murray's Government class during 9/11.
7. Do you swear? Do you pseudo-swear? (You know crap, shoot, friggin'?)
Both. All the time. I have no desire to quit, and it makes me a little bit sad that I am going to have to when Macy starts talking. Maybe that makes me a bad person.
8. Insert your own random thought here.
2. Who would you want to come into your kitchen to cook dinner for you?
I would say Chef Anne Burrell if we're talking celebrities, and Casey if we're talking real-life people.
3. When did you last fly a kite?
I have no idea. I actually think the last time might have been back in like 1998 or 1999. I remember going to the elementary school up the street and flying a kite sometime around then.
4. What topic puts you to sleep faster than anything?
Politics! I don't understand politics. I don't want to understand politics. I hate politics.
5. Which flowers do you associate with specific people, places, or events?
Peonies remind me of summer time at the house where I grew up, along with purple coneflowers and lilacs.
6. What significant historical events took place during your elementary school days?
The one I specifically remember was Operation Desert Storm. I remember hearing at school about Sadam Hussein invading Kuwait. We also had a bumper sticker on the car that said "We Support Desert Storm Troops." I remember the OJ trial, because I thought it was really silly that his parents named him after orange juice. The Bill Clinton-Monica Lewinsky scandal happened I think when I was a freshman. I was a senior in Mr. Murray's Government class during 9/11.
7. Do you swear? Do you pseudo-swear? (You know crap, shoot, friggin'?)
Both. All the time. I have no desire to quit, and it makes me a little bit sad that I am going to have to when Macy starts talking. Maybe that makes me a bad person.
8. Insert your own random thought here.
I have the best dog in the world. He is my little buddy and he keeps me company and comforts me when I am sad. He is an excellent snuggler, and I am so glad to have him with me right now.
28 Weeks--With Ultrasound Pictures!
28 Weeks.
Total weight gain/loss:
26 Pounds.
Gender:
It's a Girl!! Her first name is Macy.
Size of baby:
Macy weighs about 2.25 pounds. She is about the size of a Chinese cabbage, and is about 14.8 inches from head to heel.
Maternity clothes?
I just ordered a maternity swim suit yesterday. Right now I'm living in yoga pants and t-shirts, or maternity jeans and a cute shirt if I go somewhere.
Stretch marks?
I'm having a hard time hunting down this Mederma Stretch Mark Therapy. They don't have it at Babies R Us, or Target. I know I can count on Amazon if need be, but I want to find it in a store because I have a coupon.
Sleep:
My sleep patterns are kind of irregular. Some nights I sleep well, other nights I have bad dreams.
Best moment this week:
Getting to see her on the ultrasound tonight. The pictures didn't turn out great, but I could pick out some of her features. She has my nose and lips, and her Father's cheeks. We can't determine the forehead size yet since we can't see her hairline--unfortunately.
Her heartbeat--150 beats per minute
Her profile
Look at that face!
Movement:
She wakes up in the evenings. She has been kicking and punching me a lot this week. The other night I could feel her kicking one side of my abdomen while she punched the other at the same time in this weird rhythm.
Food cravings:
They have calmed down a little this week. I have also been trying to eat healthier.
Symptoms:
Macy sits on my bladder because I am carrying low, so I pee a lot. The nosebleeds are gone for the time being, and I have a little more energy this week, but still not as much as I did in my second trimester. I have a little bit of swelling in my ankles because I walk a lot.
Belly Button: in or out?
Still in.
Rings: on or off?
Off. They have started to leave an imprint even during the day. I guess I'm getting pretty puffy these days.
What I miss:
Bending over without feeling like I am suffocating.
What I am looking forward to:
Meeting her and seeing her in person!!
She wakes up in the evenings. She has been kicking and punching me a lot this week. The other night I could feel her kicking one side of my abdomen while she punched the other at the same time in this weird rhythm.
Food cravings:
They have calmed down a little this week. I have also been trying to eat healthier.
Symptoms:
Macy sits on my bladder because I am carrying low, so I pee a lot. The nosebleeds are gone for the time being, and I have a little more energy this week, but still not as much as I did in my second trimester. I have a little bit of swelling in my ankles because I walk a lot.
Belly Button: in or out?
Still in.
Rings: on or off?
Off. They have started to leave an imprint even during the day. I guess I'm getting pretty puffy these days.
What I miss:
Bending over without feeling like I am suffocating.
What I am looking forward to:
Meeting her and seeing her in person!!
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Wednesday Hodgepodge
I'm going to assume I'm also not allowed to save it or use it to pay bills--YAY! I can think of plenty of things to do with $1500.
1. Day at the spa--pedicure, wax, massage, maybe a haircut. (about $230 with tip)
2. Trip to Richmond to visit Hobby Lobby for some new scrapbooking toys, and fabric for Macy's nursery. (Easily $500)
3. Old Navy for some clothes shopping. ($200)
3. Old Navy for some clothes shopping. ($200)
4. Have my 3rd Trimester 3-D Ultrasound. ($125)
5. Maternity Pictures ($275)
6. I could easily spend the remaining $170 on Amazon.com.
2. Do you celebrate St. Patrick's Day in any way, shape, or form?
I LOVE St Patrick's Day. My birthday is the 16th (today, actually!), so it has always been a good excuse for 2 days of partying. Also, Baby Daddy is Irish so he likes it a lot. Usually he cooks corned beef and cabbage for me, and we drink green beer, or Irish Car Bombs, or some other Irish brew. Last year we bought Harp and had Irish Car Bombs. Obviously I won't be drinking any of those things this year. I will actually be going out for my birthday that night with some girlfriends--dinner at Outback. Yummy!
3. Have you been bitten by the Spring Cleaning bug? What spring cleaning job most needs doing at your house? What spring cleaning job are you most dreading?
I moved a month ago, so I have been unpacking and Spring Cleaning as I go. Since the apartment is already clean, I don't really have any jobs that need to be done, or any jobs that I am dreading. Today I cleaned the coffee table, which is one of my least favorite chores. It is wood with glass panels, and it gets to incredibly dirty. It looks gorgeous when it's clean, but it is such a pain to clean it!!
4. lime-shamrock-sage-forest...your favorite shade of green?
Bright green--like a Kelly Green or Spring Green.
5. Thomas Jefferson once said, "I'm a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it." So...do you believe in luck or do you believe we make our own luck?
I believe in a little bit of both. I don't know that it is luck as much as God's hand though. I think when it comes to big things, we make out own luck. But for little things like getting an excellent parking spot at Target, I tend to think that is just luck.
6. Monday (3/14) was Pi Day. Get it? Pi =3.14. Those math types are so clever aren't they? Since I'm not one of them tell me what's your favorite piE (the edible kind).
I love cherry pie! I am also a fan of paper bag apple pie, which my friend Kevin makes.
7. That same date (3/14) happens to be the birthdate of the late physicist Albert Einstein. I bet he knew the value of Pi. So...what do you think is more important and or valuable in life... intelligence or common sense?
I think you have to have some of each. The problem with most of the really intelligent people I have met is that they completely lack common sense. But, even if you have all the common sense in the world, you still need some intelligence to do well in life.
8. Insert your own random thought here.
2. Do you celebrate St. Patrick's Day in any way, shape, or form?
I LOVE St Patrick's Day. My birthday is the 16th (today, actually!), so it has always been a good excuse for 2 days of partying. Also, Baby Daddy is Irish so he likes it a lot. Usually he cooks corned beef and cabbage for me, and we drink green beer, or Irish Car Bombs, or some other Irish brew. Last year we bought Harp and had Irish Car Bombs. Obviously I won't be drinking any of those things this year. I will actually be going out for my birthday that night with some girlfriends--dinner at Outback. Yummy!
3. Have you been bitten by the Spring Cleaning bug? What spring cleaning job most needs doing at your house? What spring cleaning job are you most dreading?
I moved a month ago, so I have been unpacking and Spring Cleaning as I go. Since the apartment is already clean, I don't really have any jobs that need to be done, or any jobs that I am dreading. Today I cleaned the coffee table, which is one of my least favorite chores. It is wood with glass panels, and it gets to incredibly dirty. It looks gorgeous when it's clean, but it is such a pain to clean it!!
4. lime-shamrock-sage-forest...your favorite shade of green?
Bright green--like a Kelly Green or Spring Green.
5. Thomas Jefferson once said, "I'm a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it." So...do you believe in luck or do you believe we make our own luck?
I believe in a little bit of both. I don't know that it is luck as much as God's hand though. I think when it comes to big things, we make out own luck. But for little things like getting an excellent parking spot at Target, I tend to think that is just luck.
6. Monday (3/14) was Pi Day. Get it? Pi =3.14. Those math types are so clever aren't they? Since I'm not one of them tell me what's your favorite piE (the edible kind).
I love cherry pie! I am also a fan of paper bag apple pie, which my friend Kevin makes.
7. That same date (3/14) happens to be the birthdate of the late physicist Albert Einstein. I bet he knew the value of Pi. So...what do you think is more important and or valuable in life... intelligence or common sense?
I think you have to have some of each. The problem with most of the really intelligent people I have met is that they completely lack common sense. But, even if you have all the common sense in the world, you still need some intelligence to do well in life.
8. Insert your own random thought here.
I can't believe another year of life is behind me! My 20s are going by too fast!
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Phoodos: Jerk Chicken Burgers
This recipe hasn't been posted on Casey's Blog, but it is her recipe. These burgers were delicious and I will definitely be making them again!!
Ingredients:
Ingredients:
- 1 pound ground chicken
- 1 lime--the zest and the juice
- 1 Tbsp KC Masterpiece Caribbean Jerk Marinade
- 1 Tbsp dry jerk seasoning--I had a hard time finding this, so I actually used Mrs. Dash Caribbean Citrus seasoning
- 1 egg--Casey recommends you skip the egg if you are grilling on an outdoor grill. I was grilling inside.
- sliced pepper jack cheese
- sliced pineapple
- Hawaiian Bread buns or rolls, depending on what size burgers you make
- sliced jalapeños
Directions:
- Squish together the chicken, lime zest, marinade, seasoning, and the egg.
- Grill the burgers until the juices run clear. (I actually don't have a grill pan, so I just cooked them in a pan.)
- Top with pepper jack, and warm in the oven to melt.
- Grill the pineapple. Casey recommends topping the slices with brown sugar, hubert, or agave nectar if you use fresh pineapple--I used canned.
- Butter and grill the buns, if you like your buns toasted.
- Top the burger with the grilled pineapple, sliced jalapeños, and some lime juice and enjoy!!
27 Weeks
27 Weeks.
Total weight gain/loss:
25 Pounds.
Gender:
It's a Girl!! Her first name is Macy. Still working on the middle name. Baby Steps.
Size of baby:
Macy weighs about 2 pounds. She is about the size of a head of cauliflower, and is about 14.5 inches from head to heel.
Maternity clothes?
Yes Please!! I only have a few t-shirts left that fit. I wore one of my cute new maternity shirts the other day. I can't really wear normal bras anymore because the underwire rubs on my belly and irritates my skin.
Stretch marks?
The Mederma stretch mark therapy cream costs $40 for less than 6 ounces. I'm waiting for payday on that one. Still none on my belly.
Sleep:
Oh I wish. I have been waking up in the night to go to the bathroom. Last night I slept from midnight until 5:30 am without waking up. It was a pretty good night of sleep, all things considered. I guess my body is preparing me for those late-night feedings.
Best moment this week:
Talking to Daddy and telling him what she has been doing, and knowing that I am in my 3rd trimester now!
Movement:
She has been moving a little bit less. I think she might be running out of room. Her movements have started to get uncomfortable from time to time. She still wakes up and moves any time I am still.
Food cravings:
HUNGRY.ALL.THE.TIME. I crave sugar and salt. Chocolate and french fries. Not together though.
Symptoms:
The nosebleeds have made a comeback in the last week. I'm exhausted, and I pee about 30 times a day. My back pain has gotten worse, and in general I just have a hard time getting around. So basically I'm almost 7 months pregnant.
Belly Button: in or out?
Still in.
Rings: on or off?
Off at night and while I exercise, on the rest of the time.
What I miss:
Having Spencer sleep in the bed with me when Daddy is gone. He wakes me up all night, so I had to banish him to the crate.
What I am looking forward to:
Letting Daddy see my belly on Skype if he can ever find a Wi-Fi connection.
It's a Girl!! Her first name is Macy. Still working on the middle name. Baby Steps.
Size of baby:
Macy weighs about 2 pounds. She is about the size of a head of cauliflower, and is about 14.5 inches from head to heel.
Maternity clothes?
Yes Please!! I only have a few t-shirts left that fit. I wore one of my cute new maternity shirts the other day. I can't really wear normal bras anymore because the underwire rubs on my belly and irritates my skin.
Stretch marks?
The Mederma stretch mark therapy cream costs $40 for less than 6 ounces. I'm waiting for payday on that one. Still none on my belly.
Sleep:
Oh I wish. I have been waking up in the night to go to the bathroom. Last night I slept from midnight until 5:30 am without waking up. It was a pretty good night of sleep, all things considered. I guess my body is preparing me for those late-night feedings.
Best moment this week:
Talking to Daddy and telling him what she has been doing, and knowing that I am in my 3rd trimester now!
Movement:
She has been moving a little bit less. I think she might be running out of room. Her movements have started to get uncomfortable from time to time. She still wakes up and moves any time I am still.
Food cravings:
HUNGRY.ALL.THE.TIME. I crave sugar and salt. Chocolate and french fries. Not together though.
Symptoms:
The nosebleeds have made a comeback in the last week. I'm exhausted, and I pee about 30 times a day. My back pain has gotten worse, and in general I just have a hard time getting around. So basically I'm almost 7 months pregnant.
Belly Button: in or out?
Still in.
Rings: on or off?
Off at night and while I exercise, on the rest of the time.
What I miss:
Having Spencer sleep in the bed with me when Daddy is gone. He wakes me up all night, so I had to banish him to the crate.
What I am looking forward to:
Letting Daddy see my belly on Skype if he can ever find a Wi-Fi connection.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Prayer Monday
Praises:
1. Baby Daddy is in port (overseas) right now, so I will get to talk to him for the next couple days!! Happy Birthday to me!!
2. The weather over the last couple of days was beautiful, and it allowed me to get outside and walk and soak up the sunshine!!
3. I'm in my 28th week of pregnancy, which is the start of my 3rd trimester!!
Prayer Requests:
1. The people of Japan.
2. Keep Daddy and his boat safe and bring him home to us. Heal his back so he doesn't have to be in pain all the time.
4. My blood pressure as I witness the ignorance that is running rampant through the media right now. I have a hard time keeping myself calm when I read some of this stuff.
Prayer:
Dear Lord,
We are truly selfish people. There have been so many times this week that I have felt slighted or wronged. I have gotten upset over the silliest things. Help me to realize that there are so many things that are bigger than me--bigger than my feelings, or my wants. Help us to see beyond ourselves. I thank you for watching over me, my friends, and my family this week. I pray that you will be with your people in Japan as they deal with this horrible tragedy. Comfort them and protect them. I bring all these requests to you. I pray your will be done in our lives, and the lives of those we love. Thank you for your goodness and grace.
In Your name,
Amen.
A Lesson in Nukular Physics
Here is some ejamacation. I'm really not trying to sound superior. However, the Navy spent 12 months teaching me about Nukular Fission, and I feel I owe it to humanity (or maybe just to my own sanity) to pass on what I know. I'm no expert, but if I can pass on enough information to give even a few people some peace of mind, I'll fell better. My motives aren't entirely pure. You see, this "crisis" reflects badly on the entire nuclear power industry. It's a pretty sizable industry, if you didn't already know that. It's also the industry that will someday employ Baby Daddy, my brother, and many, many of my friends in the nuclear community. We put in a lot of time training in this field, and we would all (selfishly) like our guaranteed jobs to still be available when we separate from the Navy.
Here we go. I can't take credit for writing the bulk of this. I took my facts from this article. Please read it if you have the time. It will explain a lot of "the basics" of how a nuclear reactor works, in more detail than I have included here.
How does a Nukular Reactor work?
Here is my "Basic" explanation of this Boiling Water Reactor (not the same as the Pressurized Water Reactors used by the Navy): Hot Rock (Uranium) + Neutron (small atomic particle) = Nukular Fission. Nukular Fission makes smaller radioactive particles and more neutrons, which make more fission. The chain reaction makes heat. Heat boils water (coolant) into steam. Steam spins a turbine blade roundy-roundy to generate electricity. The chain reaction is controlled using control "rods." Heat is carried away from the Hot Rock using the coolant, which keeps it from becoming Molten Rock. Good times.
So what actually happened?
(This is where I start plagiarizing)
The earthquake that hit Japan was 7 times more powerful than the worst earthquake the nuclear power plant was built for. When the earthquake hit with 8.9, the nuclear reactors all went into automatic shutdown. The nuclear chain reaction of the uranium stopped. Now, the cooling system has to carry away the residual heat. The earthquake destroyed the external power supply of the nuclear reactor. The power is needed to keep the coolant pumps working.
One set of multiple sets of emergency Diesel power generators kicked in and provided the electricity that was needed. Tsunami came (much bigger than expected). The tsunami took out all multiple sets of backup Diesel generators. The reactor operators switched to emergency battery power. The batteries were designed as one of the backups to the backups, to provide power for cooling the core for 8 hours. And they did.
Within the 8 hours, another power source had to be found and connected to the power plant. So mobile diesel generators were trucked in. The external power generators could not be connected to the power plant (the plugs did not fit). So after the batteries ran out, the residual heat could not be carried away any more.
At this point the plant operators begin to follow emergency procedures that are in place for a “loss of cooling event.” All of this, however shocking it seems to us, is part of the day-to-day training you go through as an operator, right through to managing a core meltdown.
It was at this stage that people started to talk about core meltdown. Because at the end of the day, if cooling cannot be restored, the core will eventually melt (after hours or days), and the last line of defense, the core catcher and third containment, would come into play. This design allows the core to meltdown completely without causing harm to the public.
Imagine a pressure cooker on the stove, heat on low, but on. The operators use whatever cooling system capacity they have to get rid of as much heat as possible, but the pressure starts building up. The pressure has to be released from time to time, to prevent exceeding the pressure rating of the system and causing it to rupture. The operators now started venting steam from time to time to control the pressure.
This is when the reports about “radiation leakage” starting coming in. This steam contains radioactive particles. Those radioactive particles have a very short half-life, that means that they decay very fast and split into non-radioactive materials. By fast I mean seconds. So if these radioactive materials are released into the environment, yes, radioactivity was released, but no, it is not dangerous, at all. Why? By the time you spelled “R-A-D-I-O-N-U-C-L-I-D-E”, they will be harmless, because they will have split up into non radioactive elements.
(Insert my ranting here)
**If you live on planet Earth, you are exposed to radiation EVERY SINGLE DAY. You get it from the sun, from bananas, from cigarettes, from all kinds of things.**
Sometime during this venting, the explosion happened. The fuel DID NOT explode. The reactor DID NOT explode. Hydrogen (which was generated from water dissociating into Oxygen and Hydrogen at a very high temperature) exploded. This explosion happened OUTSIDE the reactor. IT DID NOT AFFECT THE REACTOR IN ANY WAY!!! THE REACTOR IS NOT GOING TO EXPLODE.
(end rant)
The water in the vessel continued to boil. The operators continued to vent the vessel to prevent over-pressurization. Unfortunately, that meant that they were boiling the water out of the core and never replacing it. This began to uncover the fuel, which would eventually cause it to melt. As parts of the rod were uncovered, the material surrounding the fuel (NOT the fuel itself) began to melt. This allowed some Iodine and Cesium (which are created during Nukular Fission) to be released into the steam, and then into the environment.
At this point, they began using seawater to cool the fuel. The seawater will cool the fuel just the same as the pure water that is typically used, but the impurities in it can become activated, creating more radioactive material. Creating more radioactive material poses no threat to humanity or to the environment, it just makes more work for the techs who are responsible for decontaminating the facility. The seawater worked just splendidly to remove the residual heat.
To summarize:
Here we go. I can't take credit for writing the bulk of this. I took my facts from this article. Please read it if you have the time. It will explain a lot of "the basics" of how a nuclear reactor works, in more detail than I have included here.
How does a Nukular Reactor work?
Here is my "Basic" explanation of this Boiling Water Reactor (not the same as the Pressurized Water Reactors used by the Navy): Hot Rock (Uranium) + Neutron (small atomic particle) = Nukular Fission. Nukular Fission makes smaller radioactive particles and more neutrons, which make more fission. The chain reaction makes heat. Heat boils water (coolant) into steam. Steam spins a turbine blade roundy-roundy to generate electricity. The chain reaction is controlled using control "rods." Heat is carried away from the Hot Rock using the coolant, which keeps it from becoming Molten Rock. Good times.
So what actually happened?
(This is where I start plagiarizing)
The earthquake that hit Japan was 7 times more powerful than the worst earthquake the nuclear power plant was built for. When the earthquake hit with 8.9, the nuclear reactors all went into automatic shutdown. The nuclear chain reaction of the uranium stopped. Now, the cooling system has to carry away the residual heat. The earthquake destroyed the external power supply of the nuclear reactor. The power is needed to keep the coolant pumps working.
One set of multiple sets of emergency Diesel power generators kicked in and provided the electricity that was needed. Tsunami came (much bigger than expected). The tsunami took out all multiple sets of backup Diesel generators. The reactor operators switched to emergency battery power. The batteries were designed as one of the backups to the backups, to provide power for cooling the core for 8 hours. And they did.
Within the 8 hours, another power source had to be found and connected to the power plant. So mobile diesel generators were trucked in. The external power generators could not be connected to the power plant (the plugs did not fit). So after the batteries ran out, the residual heat could not be carried away any more.
At this point the plant operators begin to follow emergency procedures that are in place for a “loss of cooling event.” All of this, however shocking it seems to us, is part of the day-to-day training you go through as an operator, right through to managing a core meltdown.
It was at this stage that people started to talk about core meltdown. Because at the end of the day, if cooling cannot be restored, the core will eventually melt (after hours or days), and the last line of defense, the core catcher and third containment, would come into play. This design allows the core to meltdown completely without causing harm to the public.
Imagine a pressure cooker on the stove, heat on low, but on. The operators use whatever cooling system capacity they have to get rid of as much heat as possible, but the pressure starts building up. The pressure has to be released from time to time, to prevent exceeding the pressure rating of the system and causing it to rupture. The operators now started venting steam from time to time to control the pressure.
This is when the reports about “radiation leakage” starting coming in. This steam contains radioactive particles. Those radioactive particles have a very short half-life, that means that they decay very fast and split into non-radioactive materials. By fast I mean seconds. So if these radioactive materials are released into the environment, yes, radioactivity was released, but no, it is not dangerous, at all. Why? By the time you spelled “R-A-D-I-O-N-U-C-L-I-D-E”, they will be harmless, because they will have split up into non radioactive elements.
(Insert my ranting here)
**If you live on planet Earth, you are exposed to radiation EVERY SINGLE DAY. You get it from the sun, from bananas, from cigarettes, from all kinds of things.**
Sometime during this venting, the explosion happened. The fuel DID NOT explode. The reactor DID NOT explode. Hydrogen (which was generated from water dissociating into Oxygen and Hydrogen at a very high temperature) exploded. This explosion happened OUTSIDE the reactor. IT DID NOT AFFECT THE REACTOR IN ANY WAY!!! THE REACTOR IS NOT GOING TO EXPLODE.
(end rant)
The water in the vessel continued to boil. The operators continued to vent the vessel to prevent over-pressurization. Unfortunately, that meant that they were boiling the water out of the core and never replacing it. This began to uncover the fuel, which would eventually cause it to melt. As parts of the rod were uncovered, the material surrounding the fuel (NOT the fuel itself) began to melt. This allowed some Iodine and Cesium (which are created during Nukular Fission) to be released into the steam, and then into the environment.
At this point, they began using seawater to cool the fuel. The seawater will cool the fuel just the same as the pure water that is typically used, but the impurities in it can become activated, creating more radioactive material. Creating more radioactive material poses no threat to humanity or to the environment, it just makes more work for the techs who are responsible for decontaminating the facility. The seawater worked just splendidly to remove the residual heat.
To summarize:
- The plant is safe now and will stay safe.
- Japan is looking at an INES Level 4 Accident: Nuclear accident with local consequences. That is bad for the company that owns the plant, but not for anyone else.
- Some radiation was released when the pressure vessel was vented. All radioactive isotopes from the activated steam have gone (decayed). A very small amount of Cesium was released, as well as Iodine. If you were sitting on top of the plants’ chimney when they were venting, you should probably give up smoking to return to your former life expectancy. The Cesium and Iodine isotopes were carried out to the sea and will never be seen again.
- There was some limited damage to the first containment. That means that some amounts of radioactive Cesium and Iodine will also be released into the cooling water, but no Uranium or other nasty stuff (the Uranium oxide does not “dissolve” in the water). There are facilities for treating the cooling water inside the third containment. The radioactive Cesium and Iodine will be removed there and eventually stored as radioactive waste in terminal storage
My Thoughts:
- American news anchors are ignorant, and they are creating panic over nothing.
- "Radiation" is all around us. We will not begin growing 3rd eyes anytime soon.
- LOTS of engineers spent LOTS of time designing these plants so they could operate safely, even in the event of a natural disaster like this one.
- The reason that you find the information that has been released "confusing," is because YOU, CNN Lady, are NOT A NUKULAR PHYSICIST, or even a scientist of any type. You're a REPORTER. If NASA released information about a failure of one of the space shuttles, I'm sure I would find it confusing because I am NOT A ROCKET SCIENTIST.
- Saying that these reactors are not safe to operate because they were built in the 70s is like saying that it is not safe to drive a car built in the 70s. It is ludicrous. Whoever said that, I really hope someone punches you in the face for being so damn stupid.
- Nuclear power is not dangerous. Natural Disasters are dangerous.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Willpower? Not so much...
In a former life, I used to have some willpower. Or maybe I didn't and I just killed my cravings with nicotine. Either way, lately I feel like I just can't control myself when it comes to food. Yeah, I know I'm pregnant, and pregnant women have cravings. I just feel like I'm going a little overboard here lately.
Today would be a prime example.
I woke up this morning and had a pretty decent breakfast--whole wheat toast with peanut butter (yes, Casey, I am giving her a peanut allergy) and a glass of skim milk. I had an appointment, and then I went to the gym for an hour. So far, so good. On my way home, the craving hit me--McDonald's french fries. I think this is the 3rd day in a row. A LARGE order of McDonald's french fries. SALTY french fries. Salt is not really good for pregnant women. Especially for a pregnant woman who is hoping to be medically cleared to drive 900 miles when she is 35 weeks so she can have her baby in Illinois. High blood pressure is one of the things that would definitely cause the doctor to "ground" me. Yet, I cannot resist.
My chocolate craving is out of this world right now. Today I stopped to get milk, and I managed to walk out with a triple chocolate cake mix and a container of whipped chocolate icing. I was going to make the cake mix into cupcakes this evening, but instead I ended up eating about 4 spoonfuls of the icing. That was on top of the Hershey's Kisses I ate throughout the day, because they are in the jar on the counter and why not? I'm pregnant! I've been justifying the horrific amount of calories I consume every day by thinking "I'm sad and lonely right now...I'm depressed and it's better than smoking...I'll feel better in a while and then I'll cut back."
I think it is officially time to get over it. I am still sad and kind of depressed, but I bet I'll be more sad when I have to deliver a 10-pound baby because of the amount of weight I put on while I was pregnant. Or when I have huge, scary stretch marks covering my entire abdomen.
Now I just have to figure out how to get some willpower back...ideas, anyone?
Wednesday Hodgepodge
1. The season of Lent begins on March 9th this year...do you participate and if so, in what way?
I don't participate personally. Usually, I have to listen to Baby Daddy whine about how he can't eat meat on Fridays. Also, he usually gives up something ridiculous, (like chocolate?!?) and he whines about that too. Then we make way too much food on Easter and just gorge ourselves on it. But not this year. It's kind of sad, actually.
2. Traditionally pancakes are eaten on the day known as Shrove Tuesday which is the last day before Lent (March 8th this year). So....butter and syrup? Blueberry? Chocolate chip? ewww, no thanks!! What's your pleasure when it comes to eating pancakes?
If I'm eating them at home, chocolate chip. I have mastered the art of making excellent chocolate chip pancakes. Also, I don't put syrup on them. I'm also a fan of Cracker Barrel's Maine Wild Blueberry pancakes (with the blueberries in the batter), and IHOP's Cinn-a-stack pancakes. I'm hungry now.
3. Spring is coming. (It is coming, right?) What's your favorite springtime flower and do you suffer from seasonal allergies? Two questions I know, but they're lightweights.
I guess I would have to say lilacs, which might actually be a summer flower, now that I think about it. I love the way they make it smell outside. I never suffered from seasonal allergies until I moved to Virginia. I grew up in the mid-west, and then I lived in South Carolina for 4 years. According to the vet, this area is the second worst area for environmental allergens--oh, my dog has seasonal allergies, too. That's why I got the info from the vet. I had just paid him $200 for an allergy test.
4. "Our opinion of people depends less upon what we see in them than upon what they make us see in ourselves." Author unknown. Agree or Disagree? Why?
I guess I would agree. I'm kind of having a brain fart about what to say in response to this one. I can't really think of any examples.
5. Since it's "March" and also the season of Mardi Gras....have you ever been in a parade? What's the best parade you've seen?
I've never really been big on parades. I remember watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade a few times as a kid. I can't really think of a specific parade that was "the best."
6. You would jump up and down and shout for joy right now if someone told you___________?
Baby Daddy is coming home and he doesn't have to go back until this deployment is over!!
7. How clean is your car on the outside? Inside? Is there junk in your trunk?
My car is silver, so it stays pretty clean. I used to have a black car, and I learned my lesson. Especially when I go home to the land of dirt and gravel roads. Inside my car is still clean because it is new. Also, Spencer has never been in it, so there is no dog hair. I don't actually have a trunk, but there is nothing in the back of the car--again, it's new.
8. Insert your own random thought here.
I love this time of year. Not just because Spring is on the way and it is about to warm up. Also, because 1) It is Girl Scout Cookie season, and 2) Cadbury Cream Eggs!!
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Seriously?!
Anyone who has had a conversation with my about my job will probably tell you that I am *slightly* disgruntled. Most of the time, I chalk this up to the old adage "A bitching sailor is a happy sailor." For the most part, the military has taken very good care of me over the past 6 and a half years. Yeah, I complain about my job, or the people I work for, or the Navy in general. But mostly, MOSTLY I lead a pretty good life. I have been given opportunities and benefits by the military that I otherwise would not have been given.
Then, there are days when I want to stand in the middle of the room and scream at the top of my lungs "ARE YOU FUCKING SERIOUS RIGHT NOW?!?" and throw a temper tantrum.
Today is one of those days.
You see, about 6 months ago, I did something that caused Big Navy a great inconvenience. I went and got myself knocked up. Thus begins my saga.
I left my ship back in December, about 2 working days after medical confirmed my pregnancy. Initially, I went to a place called TPU--Transient Personnel Unit--while Big Navy decided where they were ultimately going to send me. After 2 weeks, I was issued "orders," which told me when and where I was to report for duty for the remainder of my pregnancy, and for 12 months following my delivery. I left TPU, and reported to my new command. When I got there, the people in charge of the paperwork informed me that my orders were written incorrectly. Basically, there is a 3-digit code attached to my orders. My code was supposed to be 100, they put 105. Seems pretty innocuous, right? RIGHT.
That 3-digit code might as well have been 666 for all the trouble it has cause me over the past 3 months.
I was told I had to call Millington--the place where the "orders gods" live--and tell Big Navy that my orders were wrong. A little side note about Navy "customer service:" If there is a problem with something (paperwork, a part is the wrong size, some officer forgot to print his name after his signature on that paperwork, whatever), and that something has your name or social attached to it in any way, it is YOUR fault--YOU, the service member. So of course, the fact that some middle-aged man in Millington typed a "5" instead of a fucking "0" on my orders is MY fault. So I call Millington. I did mention this was in December, right? So when do you think I actually got a hold of a person in Millington? Yes, January 3rd. It took A MONTH to reissue the orders once I finally talked to person. It only took 10 business days for them to issue the damn orders to begin with, but it took a month to fix them. This creates a major paperwork problem for the Local Navy. Without the right orders, Local Navy can't "gain" me, which means that they can't update what command I am attached to, they can't alter my pay, they can't do anything with me. I'm basically in Limbo...or maybe Purgatory? I don't know, I'm not Catholic. I guess it's more like the "Beyond" section of Family Guy's Bed Bath & Beyond (Google it). No one can do anything with me until my paperwork is fixed.
I know I'm long-winded today, but I'm seriously pissed.
So...new orders, PSD can gain me, everything is good. Until I get my pay stub for February--it says my check is $500 less than it should be. Turns out, Local Navy wants me to prove I don't live in the barracks before they stop taking the $286/month meal deduction out of my check. I find this out after they have taken 2 months worth of this meal deduction. (You know, since I was in Purgatory for the last month and they couldn't update my pay.) This involves me routing paperwork, getting approval from my command and from the galley, and going back to PSD so they will STOP TAKING MY DAMN MONEY!! Of course, I can't do all of this in 1 day. It took about a week, and 2 extra trips to the base ON MY DAYS OFF. The last trip I made was this morning.
Today had been such a good day. I was feeling so productive. I had gotten everything straightened out with my pay.
Then I looked at my new pay stub.
They took another $400 from me. Don't know why. They can't tell me why over the phone.
I have to go back over there...18 miles away...while gas is $3.35 a gallon...IN UNIFORM...on my fucking day off. FML.
So short version:
I'm having a baby--YAY!
Big Navy sent me off the ship--YAY! and messed up my paperwork--BOO!
Messed up paperwork cost me $566.00 last month--BOO!
Big Navy charging me $400 this pay check for being pregnant...or for some other unknown reason I can't find out without driving 36 miles round trip on my day off--BOO!
Don't join the military. Big Navy will fuck you.
FML.
Then, there are days when I want to stand in the middle of the room and scream at the top of my lungs "ARE YOU FUCKING SERIOUS RIGHT NOW?!?" and throw a temper tantrum.
Today is one of those days.
You see, about 6 months ago, I did something that caused Big Navy a great inconvenience. I went and got myself knocked up. Thus begins my saga.
I left my ship back in December, about 2 working days after medical confirmed my pregnancy. Initially, I went to a place called TPU--Transient Personnel Unit--while Big Navy decided where they were ultimately going to send me. After 2 weeks, I was issued "orders," which told me when and where I was to report for duty for the remainder of my pregnancy, and for 12 months following my delivery. I left TPU, and reported to my new command. When I got there, the people in charge of the paperwork informed me that my orders were written incorrectly. Basically, there is a 3-digit code attached to my orders. My code was supposed to be 100, they put 105. Seems pretty innocuous, right? RIGHT.
That 3-digit code might as well have been 666 for all the trouble it has cause me over the past 3 months.
I was told I had to call Millington--the place where the "orders gods" live--and tell Big Navy that my orders were wrong. A little side note about Navy "customer service:" If there is a problem with something (paperwork, a part is the wrong size, some officer forgot to print his name after his signature on that paperwork, whatever), and that something has your name or social attached to it in any way, it is YOUR fault--YOU, the service member. So of course, the fact that some middle-aged man in Millington typed a "5" instead of a fucking "0" on my orders is MY fault. So I call Millington. I did mention this was in December, right? So when do you think I actually got a hold of a person in Millington? Yes, January 3rd. It took A MONTH to reissue the orders once I finally talked to person. It only took 10 business days for them to issue the damn orders to begin with, but it took a month to fix them. This creates a major paperwork problem for the Local Navy. Without the right orders, Local Navy can't "gain" me, which means that they can't update what command I am attached to, they can't alter my pay, they can't do anything with me. I'm basically in Limbo...or maybe Purgatory? I don't know, I'm not Catholic. I guess it's more like the "Beyond" section of Family Guy's Bed Bath & Beyond (Google it). No one can do anything with me until my paperwork is fixed.
I know I'm long-winded today, but I'm seriously pissed.
So...new orders, PSD can gain me, everything is good. Until I get my pay stub for February--it says my check is $500 less than it should be. Turns out, Local Navy wants me to prove I don't live in the barracks before they stop taking the $286/month meal deduction out of my check. I find this out after they have taken 2 months worth of this meal deduction. (You know, since I was in Purgatory for the last month and they couldn't update my pay.) This involves me routing paperwork, getting approval from my command and from the galley, and going back to PSD so they will STOP TAKING MY DAMN MONEY!! Of course, I can't do all of this in 1 day. It took about a week, and 2 extra trips to the base ON MY DAYS OFF. The last trip I made was this morning.
Today had been such a good day. I was feeling so productive. I had gotten everything straightened out with my pay.
Then I looked at my new pay stub.
They took another $400 from me. Don't know why. They can't tell me why over the phone.
I have to go back over there...18 miles away...while gas is $3.35 a gallon...IN UNIFORM...on my fucking day off. FML.
So short version:
I'm having a baby--YAY!
Big Navy sent me off the ship--YAY! and messed up my paperwork--BOO!
Messed up paperwork cost me $566.00 last month--BOO!
Big Navy charging me $400 this pay check for being pregnant...or for some other unknown reason I can't find out without driving 36 miles round trip on my day off--BOO!
Don't join the military. Big Navy will fuck you.
FML.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Prayer Monday
Last week, I discovered that I have a problem letting go of things. Well, I didn't discover it last week. I've known it for a while. Last week it really started to weigh on my heart. I spend a lot of time worrying and stressing about things I can't control. This week, my goal is to give these problems to God. I am asking Him to help me let go, and to remind me of this passage from Matthew when I try to take my problems back from Him.
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of
you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?" Matthew 6:25-27
Prayer Requests:
1. Keep Daddy and his boat safe and bring him home to us. Heal his back so he doesn't have to be in pain all the time.
2. Let Macy continue to grow and develop the way she is supposed to. Help me to handle the stress on my body, and to have a safe and healthy pregnancy, labor, and delivery.
3. Help me let go and give my problems to You. Allow me to trust that You will handle them.
4. Help me sleep. I have had a terrible time sleeping since Daddy left.
Praises:
1. God has given me Macy. She moves and kicks and reminds me every day that she is a little piece of her Daddy. She helps me feel close to him when he is so far away.
2. It has started to warm up a little bit. I'm so thankful that Spring is on the way!
3. God has helped me make it through another week.
Prayer:
Dear God,
I need your strength this week. So often I feel like I won't even make it through the day. Thank you for carrying me through these difficult times. Help me to focus on the things that truly matter. Remind me that you are strong and powerful, and that I should be coming to you with my problems instead of relying on myself. Please bless all those participating in Prayer Monday, and hear our requests. Allow us to feel your presence this week, Lord. In Your name I pray.
Amen
Sunday, March 6, 2011
26 Weeks
How far along?
26 Weeks.
Total weight gain/loss:
22 Pounds.
Total weight gain/loss:
22 Pounds.
Gender:
It's a Girl!! Her first name is Macy. Still working on the middle name. Baby Steps.
Size of baby:
Macy weighs about 1.7 pounds, and is about 14 inches from head to heel.
Maternity clothes?
Yes Please!! I wear yoga pants most days, which aren't actually maternity clothes--unless you ask Baby Daddy, who said "Right. Those are pregnant-person pants" when I showed him the yoga pants.
Stretch marks?
I just found out that Mederma makes a product specifically for stretch marks, not just for scars. I will be picking some up this week. Still none on my belly.
Sleep:
Still sleeping like crap. I think it's a combination of missing Daddy, nearing my 3rd trimester and just being tired, and Macy kicking me in the night and waking me up.
Best moment this week:
Realizing that I love being pregnant. As someone who has struggled with body image pretty much since puberty, being pregnant is liberating. It's the one time where it's not only socially acceptable to be fat, but people want you to take pictures of how fat you are and post them on your blog!!
It's a Girl!! Her first name is Macy. Still working on the middle name. Baby Steps.
Size of baby:
Macy weighs about 1.7 pounds, and is about 14 inches from head to heel.
Maternity clothes?
Yes Please!! I wear yoga pants most days, which aren't actually maternity clothes--unless you ask Baby Daddy, who said "Right. Those are pregnant-person pants" when I showed him the yoga pants.
Stretch marks?
I just found out that Mederma makes a product specifically for stretch marks, not just for scars. I will be picking some up this week. Still none on my belly.
Sleep:
Still sleeping like crap. I think it's a combination of missing Daddy, nearing my 3rd trimester and just being tired, and Macy kicking me in the night and waking me up.
Best moment this week:
Realizing that I love being pregnant. As someone who has struggled with body image pretty much since puberty, being pregnant is liberating. It's the one time where it's not only socially acceptable to be fat, but people want you to take pictures of how fat you are and post them on your blog!!
Movement:
She moves anytime I am still for an extended period of time. At night I have been rolling onto my side and feeling her kick as I go to sleep. Feeling her move is very comforting. She is half her Daddy, and when I feel her move, I feel closer to him.
Food cravings:
HUNGRY.ALL.THE.TIME. Plus I'm still pretty depressed, so I'm eating a lot more than I should. I have been trying to compensate by walking more--I'm terrified of gaining too much weight or giving birth to a 20 pound baby.
Symptoms:
The nosebleeds have somewhat subsided. Technically, I don't cross into my 3rd trimester for two more weeks, but I can tell my symptoms are starting to change already. My 1st trimester, I was EXHAUSTED. Like, asleep on the couch before 8 every night, and sleeping until 8 the next morning. I also had some nausea. The day I hit 13 weeks, I wasn't tired anymore, my nausea was gone, and I had headaches all of a sudden. Fortunately, they faded quickly. I have a feeling I'm going to get a whole new set of symptoms in my 3rd trimester, including the return of fatigue.
Belly Button: in or out?
Still in.
Rings: on or off?
Off at night and while I exercise, on the rest of the time.
What I miss:
Today I really wanted a Bloody Mary for some reason. I haven't really "missed" booze too much, but today I could definitely go for a drink.
What I am looking forward to:
Having another 3-D ultrasound in a few weeks.
Belly Button: in or out?
Still in.
Rings: on or off?
Off at night and while I exercise, on the rest of the time.
What I miss:
Today I really wanted a Bloody Mary for some reason. I haven't really "missed" booze too much, but today I could definitely go for a drink.
What I am looking forward to:
Having another 3-D ultrasound in a few weeks.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Phoodos: Crispy Breadsticks!!
Today I made Casey's Crispy Breadsticks, with a little twist. I used Crescent Roll dough because that is what I had in the fridge. I pinched it back together and rolled it out just like bread stick dough. I separated my dough into two batches. The first I brushed--spooned, actually--with olive oil, and sprinkled with garlic salt and Mrs. Dash Italian Medley (I didn't have any parm), and then the tops I just sprayed with Olive Oil Pam. For the second batch, I melted 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter (I wanted to use it up so I can get it out of the fridge), and sprinkled with cinnamon sugar. My bread sticks took 10 minutes to cook, and they turned out splendidly!!
With garlic and Italian seasoning
With Cinnamon and Sugar
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Wednesday Hodgepodge
1. March 2nd is Dr. Seuss's birthday so I'm wondering...do you like green eggs and ham? Okay-how about this instead...how do you like your eggs? Or don't you?
It depends. If I'm at a restaurant, I order scrambled with cheese. I can't handle runny eggs. I don't know what it is, but runny eggs completely gross me out. I like my eggs over hard, but I have had a few bad experiences where I have ordered over hard, and when I cut into the egg, it runs all over the plate. Now I save myself the ick factor and order scrambled.
2. Is March coming in like a lion or something less ferocious where you live?
It's funny that this is a question. I was actually thinking this morning that the wind has been roaring lately. We have definitely been having ferocious weather here for about the past week.
3. Do you work better or worse under pressure?
I'm going to go with better. I don't know if that is actually true, or if I have procrastinated so much in my life that I have no idea what it is like not to work under pressure.
4. March Madness-are you a fan? It's college basketball in case you're wondering. And if you're outside the USA tell us-is there any sort of 'madness' taking place during March in your part of the world?
I can't stand basketball of any variety. I don't know why. I hate watching it, I hate hearing about it, and I really hate when it cuts off part of one of the shows in my DVR.
5. Under what circumstances do you do your best thinking?
For organizational-type thinking, I like to be sitting down with some paper and a pen in front of me. Preferably, a pretty notepad and a fine-point pen. For problem-solving, I do a lot of thinking while I am exercising. That is the time when I think through and figure out how I am going to handle my problems.
6. What item of clothing from your wardrobe do you wear most often?
Right now sweat pants or yoga pants with t-shirts. When I'm not pregnant, jeans and t-shirts with hoodies. I don't really do much dressing up. I wear a uniform to work, so when I get home it seems pointless to put on "something nice."
7. Do you use sarcasm?
Like it's a second language.
8. Insert your own random thought here.
Tomorrow my baby sister will be old enough to buy herself booze. I'm really getting old. But I have decided that I am going to stay 26 until I turn 30. That's what Baby Daddy did, and it seemed to work out pretty well for him--seriously, he had been saying he was 26 since he was 26...until he turned 30 three months ago.
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