Cyber Book Club

After the overwhelming support I received for an online book club, I have decided to proceed. The overwhelming support came from Amander and Teddy. We're currently three members strong and I do mean strong. You two are a couple of my dream book team members. Let's get this crazy club started!

The first book will be The Jade Peony. This suggestion came from the Lovely Amander and since yesterday was definitely NOT her birthday and should therefore NOT be mentioned or celebrated, we'll let her have her way. Besides, it's one of the CBC Canada Reads selections and sounds interesting.

Seeing how this is experimental and Amander needs to wait until I mail her a copy of this book (which is currently unavailable in the US,) the timeline for this first round will be a little sketchy. Check in every once in a while and I'll do the same. Let's tentatively have this read by the end of January (we need to give Canada Post lots of time during the holiday season.) Sound good?

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Speaking of birthdays, let us take a moment to reflect on a man I like to call Meekalo Alexianismo. An all around funny and smart guy. This planet is a better place with him on it.

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Now that we've gotten several cereals, vegetables and fruits under our belt, I'm starting Lil G on meats & protein. I tried giving him some of that baby food meat that comes in a jar, but he refused it more vehemently than he has anything else. Can't say that I blame him--I nearly gagged simply opening the jar. On the other hand, he seemed to enjoy bits of the salmon in rose sauce I gave him from my own supper. The kid's a foodie already. I like it.

Today I amused him with my own version of "Near (clop clop clop) Far" that Grover made famous. I don't care if the rest of you don't think I'm funny--my kid thinks I'm hilarious.

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'Tis the season is upon us. I love having a decorated tree up and Christmas music from the 40's on (my dream caroling team: Frank, Dean, Bing, Nat, Ella and Rosemary.) I love sitting by the fire and drinking hot chocolate (I haven't done this yet, but doesn't it sound nice?) I love coming up with ideas for presents my loved ones will enjoy. And yet Christmas is my least favourite holiday. What gives? It's December 2nd and already the drama is percolating. The Christmas in my head and in my house is much better than the Christmas outside. On the pessimistically bright side, this year can't possibly be worse than last year. Can it?

A - I

A. I have mixed feelings about George Clooney. What's he so smug about?

B. Lil G cut his first tooth. After a week of dealing with the whiniest baby on earth, I was thrilled to notice the sharp little white bumps poking through his gums. Now I'm dreading the rest of his teeth coming in. Yes, the result is adorable but the journey makes me want to pull my hair out. Oh wait--he's already doing that with his chubby little fingers.

C. The farmers' almanac lied to me. It told me that this would be the only weekend in November that wouldn't see snow. The opposite has occurred. Damn farmers--tomorrow is moving day.

D. We watched Up last night. I cried, I laughed. It burrowed into my soul. That said, I have a feminist rant loosely related to this movie, but I'll save it for another day. I'm sure you can't wait!

E. I'm currently reading Wit's End and although I hate to put it down, I'm not quite sure what the point of it is. It's cleverly written--almost on the brink of stream of consciousness--and yet it's almost unnerving that the protagonist hardly speaks.

F. Let's start an online book club, shall we? I know I've suggested this before and been denied. Let's do it anyway.

G. Maybe I've only suggested it in my head.

H. By the way, we can no longer be reached on our landline. I wouldn't recommend calling that number as it's about to be disconnected.

I. Time for some life maintenance.

PS Kevin: I have a feeling what you said about my last entry is true, but I actually think I've forgotten how. Also, keep me posted about Victoria.

I Heart Nerds

Moving sucks. Especially for a self-proclaimed minimalist/someone who thrives on organization. Realizing how much crap we actually own (and cannot throw out) on top of living in chaos makes me a little crazy. No, I actually mean crazy. As in mentally ill. The fact that we will be meandering in limbo for the next eight months does not help matters. I need organization, damn it! I need stability!

Huh. Perhaps this is why I have been considering retiring from acting. An actor's life means, more often than not, an absence of organization and stability. To a certain extent, it also means a lack of control over one's career. Mamahood aside, the path I veered onto means that I decide when I work and when I don't. So, is it healthy or unhealthy to indulge my (not so) inner control freak?

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I spoke to my mom briefly on the phone this morning. Six out of seven of her grandchildren are currently with her in AZ. While we were chatting, my oldest niece and nephew were making math quizzes for themselves. Mom whispered, "My grandchildren are such nerds--I love it!" Of course, you all know that I believe nerds rule the world. I am a nerd, I married a nerd and I hope Lil G grows up to have a healthy dose of nerdiness.

One quality I know Lil G possesses is a little bit of the Casanova gene. We were picking up MLC's professional mail yesterday (no, no, not MLC's professional male--calm down) when a little girl about Lil G's size but twice his age came over to see him. When she put her hand on his car seat, he looked deep into her eyes, then reached over and held her hand. Part of me was thinking, That's so adorable! While another part of me was thinking, This store is grimy and so is that little girl--don't touch her! Unclean! Unclean!

I'm filing that last little anecdote under "Confessions of a Sentimental Germaphobe."

November 20th

I'm posting this a day early because starting tomorrow, we begin our move into our interim home. This weekend is going to be crazy.

(ahem)

Some of you may not know that MLC is my second husband. Above is my engagement photo from the spring of 2001 (making me 14 and Brian 13.)

The ceremony took place in Dr Prof Director A Berkeley's theory & criticism class over a class list and some Janet Jackson lyrics. It was truly beautiful.

To this day, Bri-Bri is one of the funniest and most thoughtful people I know--not to mention one of the hotttest.

Happy Birthday to you, faux 'mo husband, from all of us here: Bobby (me), Brinette, Albert Clifford, Rufus, MLC and Lil G. We love you!

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Kevin: I read your comment on Bri-Bri's blog and urge you to also check out How I Met Your Mother, if you haven't already. Start from the beginning and cruise right through. Each season gets stronger than the last and it's one of the most cleverly written shows on television. Besides, who doesn't love Doogie Howser? I mean Neil Patrick Harris? (PS I find all shows depicting high school students actually cast actors in their 20's--then their parents are played by actors in their 30's. You know, with the exception of all the Degrassi shows. That's one thing that Canadian television does right. The ONE thing.)

Role Playing

Lately, when MLC or I get irrationally upset at the other, we reenact Larry King's interview with Carrie Prejean.

Sample dialogue:

"Mike...Mike...you're being really inappropriate right now and I'm about to walk off your show." (mime taking off microphone while MLC responds) "What? What? I can't hear you."

Sometimes I like to work a sentence in there about "opposite marriage", depending on how upset I am.

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Yes, Lil G and I survived another near injury experience. Our tumble down the stairs was nice and minor, although I do have one mother of a bruise near my tailbone. Not to mention some nasty carpet burns. MLC pointed out after the fact that had I simply put my hands down, I would have slipped down one step and stopped myself. Instead, one hand held my baby close to me and the other held his head protectively.

The only darling part of the whole ordeal was Lil G's concern for my well being. He did not like seeing me crumpled on the floor and wouldn't calm down until I got up and ensured him I was okay.

His little personality comes out more and more every day. I sure love that little guy and he sure loves to give me slobbery kisses.

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Life is full of packing, meetings, organizing and attempting to get another production of my play off the ground. In a few weeks it will be full of drinking hot chocolate by the Christmas tree and reading good books. I look forward to the end of this two week tunnel.

Pink Positive

I'm procrastinating packing my house by getting a head start on Christmas shopping. Yes, I will likely have finished my shopping before I finish my packing.

There are one or two nagging stressors zapping my brain, so let's counteract them with a positive post...

1. This is some kick-ass November weather. I'll take sunshine and above zero temperatures, thank you. I'll take them and I'll love them.

2. Lil G is now consistently sleeping 11 or 12 consecutive hours without a feeding. Odd how getting up after 6am now feels like a good sleep in. For those of you about to have babies: buy one of those sleep training books. Buy it and live it. There are people out there who still get up multiple times a night with their toddlers--you do not want to be one of those people. They are sad.

3. Speaking of the tyke, he's also learning some great games. He loves "Where's Mommy/Daddy" which is sort of like hide-and-go-seek with little-to-no hiding and the seeking consisting only of him turning his head and body around until he spots MLC or me. Oh, but when he spots us, he breaks out that gummy grin and bursts out laughing. Glorious. Remember when I said 4 months was a great age? 6 months is way better.

4. Although we are moving out of the house I've loved more than any other house in a couple of weeks, our interim house will be pretty great. Who doesn't want to watch a mounted flat-screen television while soaking in a giant tub? Come on over and join me! Bring your bathing suit! Or not...

5. Without saying too much and potentially jinxing the whole deal, a director got a hold of my One Hundred Days script and wants partner up with me for an upcoming festival. We have a phone meeting scheduled for tomorrow night to discuss it further, but let us bear in mind this all hinges on the project getting accepted into the festival.

6. I'm five pounds away from my pre-pregnancy weight. This may be a shallow joy, but it's nice to pull out some of those clothes that have been at the back of my closet. I'm guessing the last five pounds are here to stay (they're stuck to my shifted hips) and I'm completely fine with that.

7. There are people in my life who are far away but will forever feel like family. Better than family. I have regular contact with many of those people and that's pretty amazing.

Lucky seven. There you go. I hope this sunny outlook didn't make you puke.

Responses

Pssst....Que'in...I'm actually on the other side of the debate. The one you mentioned bases everything on fear and circumstantial evidence--which, when you're pregnant, is pretty compelling (am I right, Lil?) I did a lot of reading and pondering before I came to my conclusion. That said, who doesn't love Jenny McCarthy? She's a fierce momma and I respect her.

Uh-oh. Is the can of worms open and unattended?

Whitney (aka Bri-Bri,) you make a good point. Okay, Q, here are the rules you must abide by as baby-nanny: no dressing the little one up in feather boas. Those are serious choking hazards. The glitter "Drama Queen" shirts, on the other hand, are okay. As long as he's not wearing them when MLC comes home.

By the way, the "nurture" aspect of the nature vs nurture argument was shot out of the water when I met Brian's dad. And brother. Nature has a funny way of putting 'mos into houses full of alpha males. I can think of several examples off the top of my head.

Christmas, I introduced Lil G to yams this morning. They were a hit--and his didn't even have brown sugar OR marshmallows on them! Feel free to join us for breakfast tomorrow.