Liquors we're low on

Rum
Vodka
Peppermint Schnapps
Brandy
Bourbon
Scotch
Douglas Fir Eau de Vie

Stuff coming up

1. This lady's birthday
2. Start of preschool
3. Trip to the Mexico! and Disneyland
4. Tanya's birthday (we'll surely celebrate with dinner, drinks, and a movie)
5. Hen's fifth birthday (Five!!) (also, my niece, brother-in-law, and friend's birthdays)
6. Mia's fifth birthday (Five!!) (also, Erin and Avery's fifth birthdays)
7. Dads' birthdays
8. Halloween
9. Another friend's birthday 
10. Thanksgiving
11. Darr's birthday (What liquor do you desire, my love?)
12. Christmas (Seriously, must get shopping and crafting for this)
13. This lady's birthday
14. New Year's

Books read in 2011

Freedom
A Painted House
Free-Range Kids
Death with Interruptions
The Lonely Polygamist
The Passage
The Two-Income Trap
Atlas of Remote Islands
Imperfect Birds
Dirty Words of Wisdom
Life from an RNA World
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
The Torrents of Spring
A Really Short History of Nearly Everything
I'd Know You Anywhere
Battle Hymn of Tiger Mother
The Art of Photography
Punished by Rewards
The Almost Moon
Uglies
Lost on Planet China
Rescue
A Visit from the Goon Squad
My Passion for Design
The Uncoupling
The Three Weissmanns of Westport
The Tales of Beedle the Bard
Little Pink House
The Siege of Trencher's Farm
Are Women Human?
Overbite
Sunday at Tiffany's
The Mouse and the Motorcycle
Winner-Take-All Politics
Charlotte's Web
The Family Fang
The Whole-Brain Child
Tollins: Explosive Tales for Children

Upgrades

2 GB RAM $200
external hard drive $139
keyboard $49
wireless mouse $69

Reading lists

Primary reading list:

1. Law School Without Fear
2. One L: The Turbulent True Story of a First Year at Harvard Law School
3. A Civil Action
4. A Time to Kill
5. Verdict
6. High Albania: A Victorian Traveller's Balkan Odyssey
7. Law 101: Everything You Need to Know About the American Legal System
8. An Introduction to Legal Reasoning

Secondary reading list (not including recommended books on Supreme Court Justices (of which there are nine), fiction, and the intro to the study of law):

1. American Law in the 20th Century
2. The Spirit of American Law
3. The Life of the Law: Readings on the Growth of Legal Institutions
4. American Lawyers
5. Stewards of Democracy: Law as a Public Profession
6. Legal Culture and the Legal Profession
7. A Nation Under Lawyers: How the Crisis in the Legal Profession is TransformingAmerican Society
8. Lawyers' Ideals/Lawyers' Practices: Transformations in the American Legal Profession
9. In the Interests of Justice: Reforming the Legal Profession
10. Cause Lawyers and Social Movements
11. Introduction to the Law of the United States
12. An Introduction to Law and Legal Reasoning
13. The Nature of the Judicial Process
14. An Introduction to Legal Reasoning
15. Thinking Like a Lawyer: An Introduction to Legal Reasoning
16. An Introduction to the Legal System of the United States
17. American Law: An Introduction

Entertainment reading list (to be finished by Monday when the first shipment of law books arrive):
The Assault on Reason
God it Not Great
The Audacity of Hope
Raising Cain
The Discipline Book
Cell

Things to do before I start school

1. clean house
2. have party
3. complete required reading
4. send requested docs to school
   
5. spend time with Henry
6. have a massage
7. get a pedicure
8. finish addressing Christmas cards
9. write and print holiday newsletter
10. shop for Christmas and birthday presents
    
11. have an actual date sans kid with husband
12. donate old stuff to Goodwill
13. start constructing Henry's first year book
14. scrapbook Henry's first year pictures
15. go camping
16. set up study area at home
17. research transportation options and purchase bus pass if needed
18. go to Montana to visit folks
19. have second photo session with Henry
20. help Henry walk unassisted
21. catch movies at the theatre
22. have lunches with friends
23. vacation in Southern Utah with Ann
    
24. blog
25. start new law blog
26. hold contest to name new law blog
27. be envious of people who have kids and careers all figured out
28. exercise
29. go for bike rides pulling Henry
    
30. order prints of Henry for photo album
31. begin creating pages for Henry's second year scrapbook
    
32. learn how to create homework-related podcasts to listen to during commute
33. continue swimming lessons with Henry
34. stock freezer with homemade dinner options for Darr, Henry and I
35. create list of chores to be completed daily once in school
36. hire folks to put up trim in Henry's room and have it painted
37. hold garage sale
    
38. return borrowed baby items to respective owners
39. meet Darr for lunch
40. move Henry's crib to his room
41. train Beauty to sleep in Henry's room on new dog bed
42. host bridal shower for best friend
43. have windshield replaced in Mini
44. wash patio and get grill working

Just the essentials

Items packed for Henry's trip to downtown Canada:

1 diaper bag equipped with normal diaper-bag accountrements
1 package of diapers (size 3)
1 package of wipes
1 jacket
2 pairs of jeans
1 pair of sweats
1 pair of shorts
2 pairs of pajamas
6 pairs of socks
1 long-sleeve dress shirt
1 polo shirt
6 onesies
1 tee-shirt
1 hat
1 baseball cap
2 bibs
4 spoons
1 container of applesauce
1 container of pureed carrots
1 baby blanket
2 binkies (but he really only uses one)
1 washcloth
4 board books
countless toys

Henry goes out without me

While I am alone at the house I am able to do the following:

clean litter box
fold laundry
put laundry away
start another load of laundry
empty dishwasher
fill dishwasher
wash dishes that cannot go in dishwasher
make bed
bake lemon bars

Now, I'm going to take a bubble bath.

Oh Meyer!

Today's cooking experiment - lemon meringue pie made with Meyer lemons. Research online has produced conflicting accounts of what to expect. Some like the slightly less bitter and abrupt taste of the Meyer lemons, stating the Meyer lemons blend unobtrusively with the other ingredients to form a pleasing, coherent pie. Others prefer the bright taste of regular lemons, finding the flavor of the Meyer lemons uninspired in this particular dish. The pie is cooling on a wire rack but we won't be eating it until tonight. We're heading over to the McMillers for dinner. The last e-mail correspondence advised lamb shish kebabs and hummus were on the menu. Darr's been trying to convince me to try hummus for years but my food fear is great so tonight will be an exciting culinary adventure for me. It's been awhile since I partook of a new food and I'm looking forward to it. Here's a list of some of the foods I have tried since meeting Darren:

emu (red meat, who knew?)
oysters (accidentally ordered thinking they were clams)
mussels (best mussels to date were in Paris and had a cheesy sauce - yum, yum, and yum)
spaghetti squash (weird)
soda bread (homemade and very tasty)
sushi (including eel at my friend's bachelorette weekend in Vegas)
caviar (click here for proof)
capers (but these were used as an ingredient so I'm not sure this counts)
stinky cheeses (including the kind with visible mold)
rabbit (in a pasta dish at Tuscany Grill - very good)
eggs Benedict (regular, salmon, and crab varieties)
chocolate croissants
sweet and savory crêpes
falafel (made at home and eaten sans sauce)

UPDATE: Hummus is TASTY! I can't believe Darr let me go this long without trying it. The lamb shish kebabs were yummy. The spinach spankoptiatasisasas (sp) were wonderful. It was all so good. Thank you for having us. Oh, and, uh, Henry sends his apologies for puking.

What we're packing

We heard we should pack snacks because hospital food might not meet our culinary needs. What we don't bring with us - for instance, pizza from Blind Onion - we will be able to get later on. Our snacks include the following:

Lu Le Chocolatier
Garden of Eatin' Yellow Corn Chips
Jolly Rancher Hard Candy
Life Savers Wild Berries
Yogurt-covered raisins (bulk from New Seasons)

To distract my mind from the happenings in the hospital room, we're bringing audio/visual stimulation in the form of magazines, music, and t.v. shows. We are still considering whether or not to bring the laptop, which will allow us to watch The Sopranos, 'cause nothing says "Hey, we're giving birth here!" like watching Mr. Gandolfini mafia-style.

US Weekly (so I don't have to think)
Brain, Child (so I can think if I want to)
iPod nano (recently purchased and loaded with music and t.v. shows)

Other essentials for Darr and I:

clothes
toiletries
camera (battery fully charged)
Tylenol (the hospital charges an arm and a leg for these)

And for the Resident Alien:

diaper bag (well, classic messenger bag)
turtle rattle
swaddling blanket
take home outfit with matching hat
burp cloth
car seat

Tag - It's my turn

I was tagged by Cathy at Mine to tell you five interesting things about moi. Yeah, let's put a disclaimer on this that the items I convey might not actually be interesting, but rather things about me you may not have known...until now.

1. I almost didn't get my degree. When reviewing my transcripts, the folks that determine whether or not you met the requirements for the degree decided not to accept my Geology credits to satisfy the science requirements. An appeal got me nowhere. I had to take an additional class at a local community college during my final semester to get the credits needed in order to graduate.

2. I have to sleep with a blanket or sheet on me, doesn't matter how hot it is in our room. In extreme temperatures, the blanket or sheet will usually end up pushed down to my ankles but at least one body part must be covered in order for me to get to sleep.

3. I once went an entire weekend (Friday night to Monday morning) consuming nothing but Mt. Dew just to see if I could. Yes, this did wreak havoc on my system. I would not recommend trying this.

4. My first cat I meant to name Ruffles but I didn't know how to spell and I ended up naming him Ruffless. (My spelling has since improved.)

5. My left boob is slightly larger than my right. This oddity has become more pronounced since I started growing a human.

So now I'll tag...um...the Noodle (or her mom) and Trina.

To do - Thursday, September 27

buy cat litter
clean cat box
scrub floors
clean kitchen counters
organize kitchen cabinets (liquor and baking/cooking supplies to start)
wash car
vacuum car
apply Apple sticker to car window
purchase plastic storage bins
place superfluous crap in dining room in storage bins
ask Darr to remove filled bins to storage room downstairs
laundry
pick up vegetables
take Beauty the wonder dog to park
drop off donation at Goodwill
finish writing 'Thank You' cards
create phone tree
pack bag for hospital

To Do Progress Update 12:35pm:
Went to Kaady car wash, am advised they can't guarantee the wash won't break our roof rack, back up and head to open spot I saw on my way in next to the vacuum. Denied. A car has already slipped into the spot. Leave car wash in dirty car.

Head to Costco. There is Christmas wrapping paper and ribbon on sale already. Am tempted but truck on over to the aisle where the plastic bins usually reside. Usually. There is only one bunch left and they are not what I was looking for. Leave Costco with no bins.

Stop at Bed, Bath, & Beyond and find bins for twice what I would have paid at Costco. Use one of the gazillion coupons I have received from BB&B to save myself $2+. Leave with bins. Finally feel as if I am making some progress.

Hit New Seasons and pick up some cat litter. Drive home.

Go to park near the garage where the hose is so I can wash the car. Denied again. Management company vehicle is blocking my way and nobody is around to bitch at to get them to move it. Proceed to park car in regular parking spot with the understanding that car will probably not get washed or vacuumed today.

Am met at door by abused dog who is unable to understand why we are not spending the entire day at the park.

Decide to take a break. Eat chocolate cookies with peanut butter chips and a tall glass of milk. Need sustenance to attempt to try and get something of value accomplished today.

My two things

I feel like using up some spare time and happened to come across "Two Things." Thanks to Cathy for sharing and giving me something to do with my pregnant self since heavy drinking and general cavorting are off the table.

Two names you go by:
1. Christie
2. Cosmo (my grandpa's nickname for me from Expo 1986)

Two things you are wearing right now:
1. socks
2. tee-shirt

Two of your favorite things to do:
1. read
2. hang out with my husband and/or friends

Two things you want very badly at the moment:
1. chocolate chip cookie
2. tall glass of milk (1% or 2%, please)

Two pets you had:
1. Maggie
2. Hannah

Two things you did last night:
1. visited the Apple store at Bridgeport
2. lusted over Darr's soon-to-be home computer (we'll purchase it once Leopard is released)

Two things you ate today:
1. Luscher Farms tomato with sea salt and pepper
2. brie

Two people you last talked to:
1. my mom
2. Darren

Two things you are doing tomorrow:
1. sleeping in
2. work

Your two longest car rides:
1. with Darr to Montana and back in one weekend (circa 1995)
2. family convoy when we moved my parents to Potomac

Your two favorite holidays:
1. Christmas
2. Thanksgiving

Your two favorite beverages:
1. water
2. Guinness

Thinking about movies

I've been thinking about movies I watched when I was growing up and decided I'd make a list of the ones I'll have to share with the R.A.

1. Star Wars (1977) - Pop's pick. When I asked Darr if he remembered other movies from growing up, he said Rocky but that isn't a movie either of us feel compelled to share with the R.A.
   
2. Fox and the Hound (1981) - First flick I ever saw at a drive-in (went with my parents and older sister). Nothing is more cute than Copper stating "I'm a hound dog."
   
3. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982) - How else is the R.A. going to learn the importance of having Reese's Pieces on hand? And there is some continuity between a movie about an extra terrestrial and having your nickname be "Resident Alien."
4. Poltergeist (1982) - I'll use this movie to warn the kid about watching too much television.
   
5. The Natural (1984) - Best baseball movie of all time because of the last scene in which Robert Redford's character hits the ball into the lights at the stadium. The music that accompanies that cinematic moment is excellent (and still gives me goosebumps on my arms).
6. Footloose (1984) - The R.A. isn't learning to dance from Darr or I.
7. Weird Science (1985) - To teach the R.A. that nothing good can come from wearing a bra on your head.
   
8. Space Camp (1986) - So the kid will 1. know it's okay to be geeky enough to go to space camp and B) be introduced to the coolest movie robot ever created, Jinx. (Loads better than #5 from Short Circuit and even, dare I say it, R2D2.)
9. Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986) - It's good to recognize there will come a time when my kid will want to ditch school. At least this movie will teach him how to get the most out of his day.
10. The Princess Bride (1987) - If only so the kid understands what his parents are talking about when we break out the "My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father, prepare to die," line.
    

Books, books, book

A trip to Powell's left us a mere $82 poorer than when we arrived but we brought home these treasures to enjoy:

--for me--
Case Histories by Kate Atkinson
Little Earthquakes by Jennifer Weiner
Terrorist by John Updike
The Secret Lives of Fortunate Wives by Sarah Strohmeyer

--for Darr--
Great Spaces, Small Houses by Carles Broto
Creating the Not So Big House by Sarah Susanka

--for the Resident Alien--
The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter
Hubert Horatio Bartle Bobton-Trent by Lauren Child

Can I just take a moment to say that another pet peeve of mine is price stickers that aren't easily removed from the objects to which they are attached. Argh.

Drivers' Ten Commandments

I thought it was a joke but it's all over the news, the Vatican released a list of ten commandments for drivers. Why the Pope settled on this topic to address I have no idea but here they are:

1. You shall not kill.
2. The road shall be for you a means of communion between people and not of mortal harm.
3. Courtesy, uprightness and prudence will help you deal with unforeseen events.
4. Be charitable and help your neighbor in need, especially victims of accidents.
5. Cars shall not be for you an expression of power and domination, and an occasion of sin.
6. Charitably convince the young and not so young not to drive when they are not in a fitting condition to do so.
7. Support the families of accident victims.
8. Bring guilty motorists and their victims together, at the appropriate time, so that they can undergo the liberating experience of forgiveness.
9. On the road, protect the more vulnerable party.
10. Feel responsible toward others.
    

I feel like writing lists

Things to Buy Before the Resident Alien Arrives
crib sheets
waterproof mattress pad
mobile
sheet savers
infant car seat
stroller
diaper bag
sling
crib
mattress
changing table
laundry hamper
diaper pail
diaper pail liners
baby monitor
thermometer
breast pump
breast milk bottles/storage bags
nursing pads (what the hell are these?)
nursing bras
burping cloths
bottles
bottle nipple brush
bottle drying rack
dishwasher basket
baby record book
baby album
growth chart

Things to Buy After the Resident Alien Arrives
bumper
snack containers
humidifier/vaporizer
teething gel
extra bottle nipples/caps
bibs
splat mat
soft tip spoons
baby dishes
training cups

Things to Buy When the Resident Alien is 16
car
driving lessons
life insurance policy (for the R.A.)
crash helmet
extra "oh shit" handle for the passenger seat


Many thanks to Sara for her help creating the first two lists.