My sister got in a car accident today, nothing serious just a really small fender bender. The driver she rear ended seemed a bit dogey though and it got me to thinking about how to respond when you are involved in an accident. I was creating a form that would remind me to gather all of the important information and keeping it in the car with me. SOoooo since bard is badgering me to come watch "Yo Mama" (a sort of funny new comic show we found last night) I will just copy paste what I found and work on the rest later.

• Other driver information:
  Driver's date of birth
  Driver's DL #/State
  Driver's name & address
  Driver's license plate #/State
  Driver’s insurance company name
  Policy # and expiration date
  Policy holder's name & address
  Vehicle owner's name & address
  Injuries or property damage

Also...

If you kill or injure an animal, pull over to the side of the road and stop. Try to find the owner. If you can’t find the owner, call the nearest humane society or call the police or CHP. Do not try to move an injured animal and never leave an injured animal to die.

Now Showing

Now Showing :: Ara trying out her new car seat!

I'm actually just using this as a test video. I am trying out Picasa (some sort of image organizer software from Google).

Sad Stove Update :: It sat out in the sun for about 2 weeks, right where I photographed it. It served as a work table for the guys who were fixing up the place so I never imagined they were going to plop it back inside the apartment! Viva la Stove!

Hi, I'm old.

Hi, I'm old.
Don't worry, my cholesterol is good and I still seem able to get up after I fall down. But, I am definitely old. I know it's not politically correct to declare this within earshot of people who are numerically older than me. I know this, and yet I am declaring it on the web (where I assume people older than me serf). I have been thinking about how super old I will be when Ara goes to high school. My parents were much younger when they had me. When my Mom was my age I was already 10! Ara is going to make me drop her off a block from the movie theatre, I just know it.

I have even suddenly seen the wisdom in minivans.

The list:

The diet starts tomorrow. Carbs Be-GONE!

Try to make Ara's some baby food from fresh ingredients.

Practice the Ginastera piece.

Lucy is pregnant, I know I shouldn't be excited.. but I am! We will be making reservations at the hermitage No-Kill Shelter for the kittens.

Ara Update:

She is SOOOO close to crawling! She gets up on her hands and knees and rocks back and forth.

She can officially roll both directions.

Every time she sees the cat she says a specific word. I think that might mean cat in her language.

I have been sitting in my computer chair for about 20 minutes now half zoning out half skimming random blogs. I ran across this one; Entering Turtle Land. I scrolled down just glancing at the pictures. As soon as I saw the cute puppy pictures I began to read. Cute puppywuppy named Yuki. Cute story. Just the frame of mind I wanted to go to bed in. Early morning tomorrow and a baby shower in the afternoon. Next week is crazy, I am subbing for a chamber orchestra in town and I have to leave teaching early and drive like mad to make it to rehearsals semi-on time. /sigh. I'm going to pick a Harry and read until my eyes close (which won't be long).

Food for Cash? Are you crazy?

This morning my Dad, Bard, Ara, and I stopped in at Barnes to browse for books we never plan to buy and of course an Italian Soda (raspberry) from Starbucks. Ara missed her morning nap so I had to keep driving her around in her stroller to keep her entertained. When we finally gave up we headed for this Italian Bistro my Dad had heard was really good. Everything was cheap, hot, and pretty darn delicious. We had the all-you-can-eat pasta, salad, and sandwich bar. Ara sat in a high chair watching all of the people and practicing her amazon woman yell. She was in heaven because we were sitting right in the path of the buffet and everyone in the restaurant stopped by to tell her she was adorable. One by one she threw all of the teething toasts I had packed on the floor. I was reading in the "What to Expect in the First Years" book recently about how basically 'dirt don't hurt'. All the same though, I wouldn't eat something off of the floor so I don't see why I should encourage Ara to. I know that at some point she will probably be licking floors like those but... never mind lets not think about it. We had her in the new car seat, that we agonized over and, guess what? I'm completely having second thoughts about the model we chose! We originally got a Graco from Target that was forward facing and when we got to reading the manual, it went straight back. It's crazy that Graco wouldn't mention that the requirement was 20 pounds, 27 inches, and (the part they left off) at least 1 year old. So next we went to the shiny baby stuff emporium, ortherwise known as Baby's-R-Us. We touched, poked, and pulled on every seat in the place. I wish we had the budget to buy the super safe, side impact protected, cushy Britax seat, but alas $300+ was a bit steep. The chair we chose was another Graco and was in the $150 range. It has really thick memory and EPS foam, but does not have the special side impact protection, AND it's u-g-l-y. Wow, I certainly digressed there from my restaurant story. So, anyway the bill came and as we went to pay the very stressed out waitress starts explaing that their card machine is down! Everyone was in a panic. What were we to do? Seriously, as I glanced around the restaurant and I saw people rumaging in their bags and shooting confused looks at their dining partners. Cash, what is that? Eventually, we sorted out our bill by leaving cash for the tip and paying with a (pause for dramatic effect) check. We were told this was an exception because they normally don't accept checks. By the way when did people stop accepting checks? I didn't even notice, can you still write them in grocery stores and Targets? Poor waitress lady explained that they wouldn't have a new machine until tomorrow morning. I wish I could have stayed... What would we have done if I didn't randomly have my check book on me? Wash dishes? I think when I began this story I was planning on summing up with some witty conclusion about how we seem so advanced but take away our 'machine' and we are totally helpless. In retrospect that conclusion doesn't seem all that witty. You know something else that wouldn't seem witty? Well, I could post this without running spell check! I crack myself up. Haha.

Oh Baby

So my sister gets one of those entertainment type magazines, I'm not sure how often they are delivered but it seems pretty frequent. I pick them up now and then and find myself drawn into the baby dramas that are CONSTATLY being reported. Now, I know I have a baby so I am naturally interested (I think anyway) in other people's baby stories. What I wonder though, is everyone else in the world as fascinated as I am in the birth plans and raising of celebrity children? Does everyone care if Angelina chooses to have her baby in a wildlife preserve in Africa? Or weather Katie can scream if she wants to? How many out there want Brittany to buy a car seat and stop using the high chair as a prop for chair dancing? I'm just curious. It seems as if this particular magazine BELONGS to Angelina, Katie, and Brit, they are in it so often. I always crack up when some journalist makes a big deal about Angelina blowing up at Brad for little things... umm the woman is PREGNANT. Understand that the bump is a universal signal for "don't mess with me". Besides I imagine, just from the looks of her or something that she is not to be messed with under most circumstances. That may be unfair... I don't actually know anything about her, besides what I've read in unsubstantiated gossip articles. But, she was Laura Croft right? Don't burst my bubble. I was a Tomb Raider fan way back in the day, like in ancient times. The movie was a little unfortunate but she looked the part like no one's business.

Sad Stove

If only the stove could talk. Yes, if only. What wisdom it could impart. Thus begins my photo essay that will change the world! Woe to the Forgotten appliances. My neighbors recently moved out and this is... no WAS their stove. I visited them at their new place yesterday, although I won't be telling the sad stove about it. I couldn't bear the sad look on its knobs if it knew they now have a working oven. We went to a 'quintet BBQ' (minus the bassoon) and had a few laughs. The horn player and his wife are expecting their kid #2 any day now and we all placed our bets. I am on April 20th, boy. I can't believe they have been strong enough not to want to know the sex of the baby. It makes everything so very exciting though. They also have secret names picked out. I so highly approve of the suspense they are creating. Oh speaking of that I have a picture of some teddys' stuck in applesauce to post. Eatable art from their 2 year old son. He is adorable and I was so interested to talk to them about their experiences with baby sign language. Ara hasn't signed back yet, but I've been reading that is normal. It was nifty to pick their brains on child-stuff. We even watched a few Baby Einstein videos which kinda sorta put the other two (the former stove owners) asleep. I keep pausing in my writing, I'm tired. Sunday's we have to get up so freaking early it makes it hard to write at 10-ish at night. Today we went with Bard to his church gig and Ara got to charm the pants off of a whole bunch of church ladies. I didn't make it to my Grandparents anniversary party which I feel bad about. Ara was already so thrown off schedule we didn't dare. Plus, (whine) I had a stomach ache last night so I tried to sleep on the couch. I woke up feeling tired and my back hurts! I feel old. (end whine).

:: Ara Update ::

We had a doctor appointment for Ara this morning. It was an important appointment with an important doctor that we have waited 2 months to see (those who know us will understand). Everything went really well, the doctor ordered the tests that we needed. Ara seemed really hyper the whole time we were there. I think she vaguely remembers the feeling of a hospital and has a general mistrust for anyone wearing scrubs. I don't blame her.. at all. She gave the nurse who tried to listen to her heart a pretty hard time. She tugged on the stethoscope in her ears and squirmed as much as possible as she tried to take her temperature. Give 'em hell Ara! I know some people will think it's crazy to say this about an 8 month old but Ara seems to have a real sense of herself. She knows what she likes and definitely knows when she doesn't like something. I am always amazed that she... how do you say this... exists. It goes along with my wonder at people who cook from scratch. Just a little while ago Ara was nothing but ingredients and WHAM there she is, a real person! Oh, and as a side note the doctor told us he knows 2 people named Ara, and they are both men. When we were considering the name I 'googled' it and found only associations like the American Rifle Association but I just did another search and I did find boys! We found the name on a website for unusual names and it said unisex, so that is my story and I'm sticking to it when she asks! The meanings we found were opinionated and beautiful. She embodies both more than we could have ever imagined. Anyway, for those friends and family reading Ara is doing wonderfully and her tests (after the insurance has approved) will most likely be scheduled for next week. Also for an Charlie and Lola fans out there... "she is small and very funny!"

Roar

Listening to the radio in the car... singing along with what ever comes on. Then that song about going down swinging comes on and I get annoyed. It's hot today and my mind seems to be buried under.. something. I get the sense that everything is slow and hot. I had a non-bad dream last night. Well actually sometime this morning. Since I woke up at 5 AM and didn't fall back to sleep after that.
On Sunday my Grandparents are celebrating their 50th Anniversary. We are having a mini-Easter tomorrow because everyone is off work on Thursdays. So I will have super cute pictures to post tomorrow. It's hot. Bleh. I just ate 3 of those mini Reeses Peanut Butter Cups and that made me think of how I need to go on a diet.

Strange Lizard

This lizard was lounging (upsidedown) in the sun a few mornings ago. He was HUGE for a normal lizard and very suspicious looking. My heart was seriously pounding as I held the camera close to get a good shot. I don't know what it is about reptiles, they freak me out! After his photo shoot the lizard decided he had enough and climbed back over the wall. I wish I had added something for scale but you can tell he is about as big as a cinder block. I'm interested to know what kind of creepy crawly he is. I've never seen a lizzy like him.

Ara Update:: She stood!

It seems like everyday Ara is hitting some huge milestone! It actually makes my heart beat harder or faster or louder or something when ever I think about it. Today, Ara had been down for her nap for about 30 minutes when I start hearing her little voice over the baby monitor. She likes to talk to herself after a good sleep, you see. I listen for a few minutes then creep into the room to sneak a peak. Well, she is WIDE awake laying with her feet in the air. So I help her sit up and we play a game of peak-a-bo through the crib slates. She giggles so cute every time I pop up and pretend to bite her fingers which she has on the top of the crib. Then, out of no where she just pulls herself up! There she is, just standing up on her own. I screamed with delight. Which threw her off a bit, of course. She plopped back down on her butt. Then... she does it again. By this time my excitement has everyone else in the room cheering her on. She has teeth and she stands... what next?

who what where

This is a test post. Therefore it is unlikely to be interesting or worth while in any way. I tried setting this up on my server but it looks like my hosting is not compatible i.e. I don't get it lol. We will see how remote hosting goes for now.

*edit*
With a little help I was finally able to put this page on my server. My old blog is still up but I will be posting updates here. I'm sure it is obvious from the haphazard look of my site that a redesign is in the works. I am up to my old tricks of working for a few hours on a design then when it is all put together I stand back and absolutely hate it! Lol. I am trying to put some forethought into the HTML so that the next redesign will go more smoothly.