|
Thursday, June 27, 2002 I Just Wanna Bash in Your Brains  I just learned that I have a 9% Likelihood of Committing Murder. How about you? ------------------------------------------------
Range War Gainesville is home to Payne's Prairie, a gorgeous open air plain that follows a cycle from being a dry plain with small lakes and sinks, to wwetlands, and then to shallow lake. In the early 1900's, Steamboats plied the lake from North to South. They have now been replaced with two main roads - Highway 441 and Interstate 75. This has brought the prairie the dubious distinction of being the Florida park with the highest incidence of road kills. Last year the DOT finished a project to protect wildlife by building massive culvert and wildlife passages under Highway 441. Although this has drastically reduced roadkills, it had an unforeseen side effect which could lead to tragedy. The widened edges of the Highway 441 noe serve as parking for hundreds of tourists a day eager to see the alligators. Rampant feeding of the gators (ILLEGAL) have led to a group of dangerous, snap-at-anything gators that could kill someone - not too farfetched as families now apparently go and stand at the wall edge and look down at them. Coupled with a road where the speed limit is 60mph and dozens of cars and bicyclists roaming the edges of the road, it's a major potential disaster (about four years ago, a car plowed into some five or six people on the road edge watching a meteor shower, and bicyclists are frequently hit on the stretch). The DOT's solution - not more patrols or enforcements - a Fence! A large fence designed to discourage pedestrian traffic that now mars a perfect stretch of road and a beautiful vista! What happened to calls for a expanded bike and foot trail along the road, or more observation platforms? The DOT claims this is a short-term solution - we'll have to wait and see. ------------------------------------------------
Wednesday, June 26, 2002 I Declare Mandatory Dances Fun Work moment of the week: I was listening to i-Tunes, and the Weathergirls were belting out "It's Raining Men". Lucien and Piper brought back the digital camera. Upon hearing the music, Lucien started to do John Travolta's moves, and Piper began a hip hop shuffle. I jumped up and joined them. It was like the moment in Peanuts when Schroeder starts playing the piano and everyone just cuts loose. In addition to adding the Pledge to every work day, I believe there needs to be at least one Mandatory Dance Break per day. Go ahead, it'll make your day. ------------------------------------------------
Civic Pride The California Court of Appeals just declared the Pledge of Allegiance as unconstitutional and a clear violation of Church and State. Therefore, it is prohibited in schools. I guess California will remove the under God clause, which is only about 40 years old anyway. It will be a true travesty is they decide to just remove it all together, though judging by some broadcasts, its a miracle if the average high school student knows it anyway. It just isn't taught anymore. I remember reciting evry day...and singing the National anthem before every movie I saw. Granted, that was on a military base, but it was just a fun group activity that taught civic pride. Maybe it'll come back. ------------------------------------------------
Monday, June 24, 2002 Ever wonder what you would look like on South Park? Wonder no more!  ------------------------------------------------
Tuesday, June 18, 2002 Forget the Segway! I need a Megway ------------------------------------------------
|
|
Sunday, June 30, 2002 Baby Babble Oh yeah! Parker started babbling again today (he'd started over a month ago and gave it up completely for reasons unknown (teething, maybe??). I think he's working on da-da. Honestly, at this point that is fine with me. As long as he starts babbling!! ------------------------------------------------
 Parker bathed for the first time tonight in the big tub all by himself. He had an absolute blast!! He even let me lay him down to rinse his hair. Of course, afterwards he did NOT want to get dressed, but that's par for the course. Today he had a bit of fun playing with the Ribbon-Rag I made him and sucking on a teething biscuit through his Baby Safe Feeder.  ------------------------------------------------
Friday, June 28, 2002 Murder! Somehow I have a lesser chance of committing murder than Jeff. Apparently I'm at -19% ... doesn't seem quite right, does it? ------------------------------------------------
Fruit-Flies Have I mentioned how much I hate fruit flies? We have a "semi-trap" for them of vinegar with liquid soap in it to break the surface tension but not all of them are falling for it. I think this weekend we will be cleaning every single corner of our kitchen, scrubbing every surface including the floor and thoroughly cleaning every garbage can in the house. I'm not sure how the cats will react, since I'm sure their food will have to be gone for a good day or so, as well ... timed feedings (OH NO!!). ------------------------------------------------
Wednesday, June 26, 2002 The Big Sleep Parker went to sleep at 9:30 tonight and is still asleep. Scary, no? ------------------------------------------------
Tuesday, June 25, 2002 Rash Decision About the rash ... now I learn it cold be heat rash, or Fifth's disease or Roseola Infantum. The latter two are related to being sick, and there isn't really anything to do about them at this point, so there it is. ------------------------------------------------
Home Doldrums Well, staying home with Parker has become frustrating. I knew it would at some point, but I think my main problem is not having a plan. I desperately have things I'd like to get done during the day, but chasing after and entertaining him still fill my day, it seems. So, I think I need to spend some time to structure my day more like how a daycare has a structured day and see how that works. I think back now to my original plans of no TV for Parker (as he sits watching a Baby Mozart video) and sigh. It was a good idea, just not terribly realistic. I think, "How did women used to do this?" and I realize that more likely than not, there was extended family nearby and many other women with children at home, and they interacted a lot. Sure, we have a playgroup every Tuesday (which we're not at because Parker still has a cough, and my throat is sore), but that is only one day ... not another mom coming over during the day to help watch Parker while I get stuff done and vice versa. I guess I need to broach that topic with some moms from my group, but the problem is that none of them live especially close ... ------------------------------------------------
Monday, June 24, 2002 Rash Well, Parker has some crazy kind of rash. I think it is from my eating seafood this weekend at Red Lobster. It was Shrimp & Lobster pasta. Tasted yummy, but definitely not worth the rash on my little one :(. ------------------------------------------------
Friday, June 21, 2002 Back from the pediatrician's office All clear. Whew!! Sick still, and probably for the next couple of days, but still no infection. Glad to hear that! ------------------------------------------------
Parker's Flu Well, last night Parker's fever spiked at 102.7-deg F. I was so glad that he woke up to eat in the middle of the night last night (not necessarily all the other times, but definitely last night). So, we're going in to see the pediatrician to make sure it isn't an ear infection. I am so worried about him getting one, since both my sister and I had a ton as children. He acts fine, seems to be okay except for the awful cough and not wanting to eat solids. Poor thing! ------------------------------------------------
Thursday, June 20, 2002 Ouch! Okay, I've heard of dogs doing this, but a baby?!?!? Parker just crawled full force into a wall. The sound was very frightening for me, but he definitely seems a-ok. We humans sure are silly, resilient creatures, aren't we? ------------------------------------------------
Wednesday, June 19, 2002 Drained Today has been really hard. I thought repeatedly throughout the day how much more relaxing it would be to have a job to go to, to get that time to feel like things got accomplished, that alone time. Even if I head out for me time, I don't have my own space somewhere to sit and think, and get things accomplished. No office with a closing door, no computer waiting somewhere to be used without interruption, nothing. I just feel drained. ------------------------------------------------
Fly on the Wall There is a fruit fly in this house. I want to kill it. It is much faster than me. I need Mr. Miyagi to kill it, I think. Die, bug, die!!! ------------------------------------------------
I have had my committee meeting (finally)!!! It took well over a month to get these 4 gentlemen in the same room! Originally, I was going to have my oral examination this Friday, but one of the professors couldn't make it, and now it has been postponed until late August or later. Actually, this is a good thing, since most of my results were based on behavioral data, and I had no anatomy to show I could do those parts. Since so much of the research is based on anatomy, my professor felt that was a crucial part of the proposal. The committee agreed, and now I have to get that together for the orals as well. I just can't wait to get that behind me and not have to worry about being a candidate or not. I keep thinking that in a little over a year, I plan to be COMPLETELY done with this degree!!! Now to figure out what to use it for. ------------------------------------------------
Wher Parker Is At Okay, it has been a really long time since I've posted. I have meant to time and time again, but just haven't done it. No good excuses. Parker is growing so very fast. He now has 5 teeth, he pulls himself up to stand, he crawls, and he can stand unassisted for almost a minute. He is also walking sideways along the couch. He loves linoleum floors, so our bathroom doors are now closed. His crib is in the next to last position. He's eating quite a few more solids. He's also sick with his first real cold. Poor thing!!! ------------------------------------------------
Sunday, June 09, 2002 Wanna see Parker crawl??  ------------------------------------------------
|
