Back in the Saddle Again

This morning Aaron went into work a little late. He staid and watched Reuben so I could go on my first post-partum bike ride. I had read the weather report around 1 AM and knew it was cold and blustery so I piled on the layers. I dragged my bike out and eagerly headed for the bike trail. I've got to say the first moments back on my bike might be some of the happiest of my life. I felt so strong and fast and free. I even up shifted. Then I thought woah- slow down, go slow going out, fast back - if you can. I thought I'd do a short four mile ride.

The wind was howling and as I looked up the river I saw a wall of black clouds behind the capitol building. I thought that was odd since the weather report hadn't said anything about a storm. I told myself I could make it to make it to my turn around point. I pedaled hard towards the looming cloud bank. As I crossed into a wooded section the wind was blowing so hard I heard the giant trees groan and whine against the wind. About 200 feet from my turn around point, I began to feel icey rain pelt my jacket and then the sound of branches cracking mingled with the howling wind. I decided I should probably turn around early but then I thought NO, I'm going to finish my ride. I continued on. Then I saw a tree trunk braced against the wind splinter and crash to the ground. The rain turned to snow flurries. I couldn't see and I could feel my hair and eyelashes freeze together. I should have turned around!! I decided I had to get out of the trees as FAST as possible. I headed home but when I broke from the forest there was no cover to break the wind. The wind blew so hard it blew my bike over. I got back on and pedaled head down through the flurries whipping furiously around me. And just like that it was over. The sun was shining and the sky clear. If it hadn't been for the snow and ice clinging to my clothes I would have thought I might have imagined it all. I rode home and dragged my bike back into the apartment expecting Aaron to rush out and congratulate me on surviving. When I asked if he could believe the storm, he looked up from his Raisin Bran, blinked and asked "What storm?" Apparently the mini-hurricane stuck to the river. So I got to enjoy my own personal snow storm. I do NOT understand how snow falling on your nose and eyelashes could be anyone's favorite thing. That's crazy talk.

So thanks to my determination/idiocy I got some exercise and am back on the bike. Woo-hoo!

10

I was down on the floor trying to get a pacifier out from under the couch when I wondered if I could still do a push up. I wasn't very hopeful, but I got into form and tried. To my surprise I made it all the way down and back up. I quickly switched to "girl" form and tried to see if I could do ten. And I did it! I was so happy. And then I felt sad because I was so happy about ten pathetic push ups. But today I tried for 20 and I made it. I'm starting to think I may be able to get back in shape.

I keep reminding myself it's possible to get back into shape even though it's hard to believe. When I start to think it's impossible I think of Jessica Scott who is probably one of the most attractive people I've known. She had a flatter stomach after having a baby then I've ever had in my whole life. Speaking of Jess, the Scotts just had their little boy. Congratulations to them!!

I Hate fire trucks

Until we had Reuben, I knew we lived right next to Reagan airport but I never realized just how close to the fire station we live. Turns out we live pretty close. And it also turns out that our local fire station must be pretty awesome because they never send one fire truck. They always send two or three, sometimes even four. I'll put Reuben down for his nap and just as he's settling an airplane will thunder over us. I'll hold my breath and listen but Reuben will power through. About a minute later the high pitched wail of the first siren will start up and roar past our house. It's so loud that the windows vibrate. Reuben: Nothing. Oh, how I love this kid. Then comes the next fire truck. Then a cop car. Then Battle jumps up on the book shelf and knocks over a stack of books. Finally the third fire truck will go screeching past our window and with that Reuben will open his eyes and let out a plaintive little wail before going back to sleep. He seems to be handling all the interference amazingly but it's driving me crazy! I'm all for fire safety but I have to wonder if there are really so many fire truck worthy incidents. I think the firemen may just be trying to show off.

BYU Blue

I saw this on Amy's blog and it made me laugh. So many memories. I have to admit, I'm almost as proud of the ones I didn't check as the ones I did.

How BYU ARE YOU?

77 questions.

[x] You have been kissed at lease once
[_] Your first kiss was on campus
[x] You’ve had a boyfriend/girlfriend
[x] You lived in the dorms your freshman year
[x] You went to Homecoming or Preference
[x] You hiked the Y
[_] You’ve taken a social dance class
[x] You regularly attended FHE for at least a semester
[x] You’ve participated in Choose to Give
[_] You’ve been to Liberty Square for a party at least once
[_] You’ve driven around south of campus for at least 20 minutes trying to find a parking spot
[.5] You know the cougar fight song
[x] You’ve crossed the crosswalk without using the flags or biked through a red light
[_] You’ve been to Friday Night Live
[x] You’ve performed or witnessed an act that made it onto Police Beat
[x] You’ve been on a “date” to the bell tower or duck pond
[x] You’ve been to the Bean Museum for FHE (I gave the talk)
[x] You’ve been to Divine Comedy
[x] You’ve been to International Cinema
[_] You are engaged
[x] You are married
[x] …in the temple
[_] You were previously engaged/married
[x] You have kids or are expecting kids
[x] Your birth parents are still married
[x] …in the temple
[x] You have at least three siblings
[_] You’ve taken a marriage prep or relations class
[x] You’ve taken at least one religion class that is not based on the scriptures
[x] You have slept on a couch in a restroom
[x] You have been to the BYU Creamery
[_] You have been in one of the BYU choirs
[_] You’ve been on a date to Fat Cats
[x] You have read Twilight
[x] …book 2
[x] …book 3
[x] …book 4
[x] …seen the movie
[_] …more than once
[x] You’ve waited in line at the Bookstore for the Harry Potter or Twilight book premiere
[x] You have seen The Singles Ward or Sons of Provo
[x] You have walked out of a movie you found morally reprehensible (see above)
[x] You know where the “chastity line” is
[x] You can finish the phrase “Nothing good happens after ______”
[x] You read the Daily Universe at least 3x a week
[_] …and it’s the only newspaper you read
[x] You’ve personally known someone who was reported to the Honor Code Office
[_] You’ve participated in or watched a Mr. BYU contest
[_] You’ve received personal revelation that he/she is “the one” (or been told this)
[_] …and told him/her about your revelation (or been told this)
[_] …and then they rejected you (or rejected them)
[x] You’ve been to the Nickelcade -YES!!! I love that place! Some of my favorite dates were beating Aaron at the basketball shooting game over and over again.
[x] You’ve been to Classic Skating
[x] You’ve ignored your parents’ phone calls for at least 3 days.
[_] …and then they called the University Police
[_] You’ve been pulled over by the University Police
[x] You watch The Office religiously
[x] You mostly wear jeans and t-shirts or plain fitted shirts
[_] You own at least 3 things from American Eagle or Hollister
[x] Your sacrament meeting is a fashion show/scam session
[x] You’ve been on a date to the Provo River

You’ve kissed in a…
[x] …campus parking lot
[x] …Provo Canyon or Squaw Peak
[x] …on temple grounds
[x] …on a couch as soon as your roommates left the room
[x] You think UVU is not a real university
[_] You hate U of U with a passion

I'm not sure how the college questions go along with the kissing.

FOR GIRLS (don’t answer if you’re a guy)
[_] You own knee-length shorts
[x] You regularly wear camisoles/undershirts for modesty reasons
[_] You are a MFHD, RMYL, Elementary Education, or Exercise Science Major
[_] Your major crush ended up dating a MFHD, RMYL, Elementary Education, or Exercise Science major
[x] You have had at least one roommate who is in hair or dental school
[_] You own The Italian Job or The Princess Bride
[_] You wear makeup at least 3x a week
[.5] You do something with your hair (other than brush it/ponytail) at least 3x a week - I braid it but I don't think that's what they mean.
[x] You went or plan on going on a mission
[_] …because you couldn’t get married

FOR GUYS (don’t answer if you’re a girl)
[_] You shave every (or almost every) morning
[_] You know when your hair is “too long”
[_] You know what the “divide by 2 and add 7″ dating rule is
[_] …and you follow it
[_] You’ve dated freshmen girls as a RM
[_] …when you already knew better
[_] You’ve used the phrase “On my mission…” to a girl
[_] At least 3 girls have baked cookies or meals for you
[_] You went or plan on going on a mission
[_] …because you wanted to get married


Total: 50

A: 68-77
B: 60-67
C: 53-66
D: 45-52
F: 44 or below

The Art of Losing isn't Hard to Master

I memorized the poem One Art by Elizabeth Bishop back when I was dating. It was nice to have on hand during break ups. But during the holiday season, when so much seems focused on getting and having, I like to think of it. I've found it especially poignant this year as I've recently seen my life change rather dramatically, having lost in some sense, parts of my old life with the birth of Reuben. To my surprise and joy the loss has really been no disaster.


One Art
by Elizabeth Bishop

The art of losing isn't hard to master;
so many things seem filled with the intent
to be lost that their loss is no disaster.

Lose something every day. Accept the fluster
of lost door keys, the hour badly spent.
The art of losing isn't hard to master.

Then practice losing farther, losing faster:
places, and names, and where it was you meant
to travel. None of these will bring disaster.

I lost my mother's watch. And look! my last, or
next-to-last, of three loved houses went.
The art of losing isn't hard to master.

I lost two cities, lovely ones. And, vaster,
some realms I owned, two rivers, a continent.
I miss them, but it wasn't a disaster.


--Even losing you (the joking voice, a gesture
I love) I shan't have lied. It's evident
the art of losing's not too hard to master
though it may look like (Write it!) like disaster.

Gift Idea

Looking for a gift for a techy who has everything. Check out this page - 10 USB drives worth having.

Hip Hip Hooray!

Reuben and I were excited to attend my mother's graduation ceremony yesterday. She's worked incredibly hard the last few years to earn her Masters of Nursing degree. She is an amazing example. I hope I can be like her when I grow up.

Away Down South in Dixie

Reuben grew large enough to fit his camo coat just in time for his trip to SC! We're leaving tomorrow morning and I'm so excited I've been singing Dixie to him all day. Every so often, out of guilt, I slip in The Battle Hymn of the Republic or Yankee Doodle to break things up. I know technically I already live South of the Mason-Dixon line but it doesn't feel like it. No boiled peanuts anywhere and that is a sad sad thing. So we're going to go away WAY down South in Dixie.

On a side note, I just learned that Dixie was written by an Ohioan in New York City for a Minstrel show. How ironic. Here's the source.

One Month

Reuben is one month old now. In one month he's learned how to smile, grown some cheeks and begun to bald. He's really embracing the aging process.

Encounters at the End of the World Trailer

Aaron and I watched Encounter at the End of the World this weekend. I LOVED it. I want to live in Antarctica!

Deranged Penguin - Encounters at the end of the world

This was one of my favorite scenes. Werner Herzog has a real gift for phrasing questions. I love that he qualifies penguin insanity as NOT having delusions as Napoleon Bonaparte. Still, hilarious and tragic at the same time. I loved this movie. I can't stop watching it.

LIttle Boy Blue

The first moment I saw Reuben I immediately noticed his eyes. They were the deepest, darkest, most penetrating eyes I had ever seen and they were staring right at me. I was absolutely sure they were pitch black. On closer inspection I realized they were the deepest blue I have every seen. I was taking pictures while he was playing on the ground and when he tired out I snapped this second picture that I think gives you a good view of what his eyes look like.

Hard at Work

I set up Reuben's crib right next to my work station in the office. He's less than an arm length away. So while I do my work he can hang out in the crib. Here are some pictures of how he spends his work time. First he looks at his book.

Then he looks at his beads.

Then he stares at his best friend the wind chime. I got Reuben's first two smiles and the wind chime got the third. He really loves it. We hung it close enough that when he flails his arms - something he does when he's excited- he can knock into it. Hearing it usually makes him more excited so he'll flail and hit it again. It's pretty fun to watch. I have a video of it that I'll try to post a little later.

Cheeks

Despite the cold, Reuben has ventured out. It was a bit of a tight fit, but we managed to get his cheeks into his sweater. We braved the weather and enjoyed a walk with Aunt Marie despite an unexpected parade of bagpiping Scotts men that blocked our route and fired off several round from their cannons. Reuben slept right through it. So there are benefits to living right next to the airport AND the fire station.

A Map of the Would Be Intruder

Here's a link to the Civil War Preservation Trust's site.

Battle For The Wilderness

Walmart is trying to build a Super Center at the edge of the historic battlefield of The Battle of the Wilderness. According the the National Park Service over 11,000 Americans lost their lives on the site. It makes me sad to think so little reverence is being paid to such a significant place. The county of Orange has some POOR planning since they zoned the area directly outside of the park as commercial. The Civil War Preservation Trust is doing its best to try to protect the land. If you want to help or learn more you can go to www.civilwar.org

Book Lust

The New York Times just put out its 100 Notable Books of 2008 . There's also a slide show of the Best illustrated books of 2008. Check it out.
I'm drooling over the selection. I think I might read Home by Marilyn Robinson next. I really enjoyed Gilead. It's one of the most beautifully written stories I have ever read. Definitely in my top ten. And Jillian Tamaki, one of my favorite illustrators, got her book Skim on the best illustrated list. Very cool.

Hi-Ho

On Monday I started back to work. I think I'm insane and if I wasn't before I shortly will be.