Dance, Dance Christa Paffgen

Today is one of those days. One of those days where I contemplate my self-worth maybe its because I'm tired, maybe its because it was a rough day at work. As much as I know I am not supposed to care about the opinions that others have of me and instead focus on what God's vision of what I am and who he is making me to be, I sometimes get hung up on the fact that most of the time I go without recognition. I guess that really I should be ok with this, and actually most of the time when I am in the spotlight I don't like it. But for some reason, when my husband gets recognized for his knowledge of this or that, I think to myself, why can't that be me. Instead of truly being happy for him. He really is the most kind person I know, and if all the bad things happened to us in this life, I think he could keep us keeping on, because he's just that cool. I dunno, I just think sometimes I come of as the person that really doesn't know anything because I rarely speak up. I know for those of you that read this I speak up on here, but in face to face life, I don't as much. At least not in most crowds.
I think the people that know me best probably know this about me. But it just was part of my thought process today, probably because I became annoyed enough to actually speak my mind to my boss today. And I thought about how this is so unlike me, but I just had to let him know that he continuously denies that I know what I am talking about and dismisses what I suggest and then suggests what I had suggested a day later and takes the credit. So I spoke up. I was tired of it being that way. And well he didn't believe me that he had told me that, and then once he knew that I was right said altered his response of not knowing the effect. So we will see where this goes.
Anyway, be aware. That silent girl in the back actually is paying attention and she has her opinion and facts she just might not want to share it.

quick update

Sometimes I am reminded that I am a bit opinionated, which happened this weekend. This reminder wasn't done in a bad way, probably because the person knows that I am just trying to find my own way. But anyway, forgive me for the strong opinions that I have if they turn you off to reading what I write, I don't intentionally mean to put down someone who thinks differently, nor in most situations do I know more than the average person. Most of the time I just get really passionate about something and tend to rave about it and rant about the counter item.

Anyway the weekend was good, we went for a hike, went to 2 cookouts, and to the art museum. A good weekend overall. and now it is over and the work week shall begin tomorrow. At least it will be a short week and hopefully I won't get so tired during it.

apparently its september (7 quick takes edition)

1. So, with all the hoopla lately about the Kennedys I do think the one that should have been featured more in dying was Eunice Kennedy Shriver instead of Mr. Edward Kennedy. It seems that she did a lot more "saintly" things with actually caring about the handicapped and such, and starting the Special Olympics. All the other guy did was change the democratic party from caring about the little guy to killing the little guy in the womb. But maybe the fact that the Kennedy that was doing God's work wasn't praised as much is just a reminder of Jesus' words of the first shall be last and the last first. She will undoubtedly get her reward in heaven, even if it wasn't recognized by those that write history.

2. In a pregnancy update, I actually drank decaf coffee yesterday and didn't have a terrible reflux episode. I am also glad that more times than not, if I figure out what I want to eat, I can actually eat a lot of it. Before I felt like I was eating way less than pre-pregnancy.

3. My parents are coming this weekend and we are going hiking. I'm praying that all goes smoothly, maybe my mom will relate to my sister's insanity that I am having to deal with.

4. There seems to have been a lot of facebook applications where they predict the number of children etc. Kinda like the game MASH that we used to play in grade school, in fact one of them is an electronic version of MASH. The thing with these applications, is that they really, really stereotype everyone that has normal ambitions into living in the suburbs with 2 kids and a big car. What about the rest of us that want at least a basketball teams worth of kids, who want to live in the city, and like little cars, or to use public transit. It irks me that the stereotype is that if you are educated you automatically want a small family. Well GRR to them. I want a freakin huge family and if all goes well, by the end of next year I will have a doctorate!

5. A quick one, since I am struggling to think of 3 more things, for those of you wondering, we will not be figuring out the sex prior to delivery of the baby. We are old school all the way. yay!

6. I made chicken enchiladas yesterday, and they are awesome once again. One of the best recipes for me to ever stumble upon. Chicken Enchiladas with Creamy Green Chile Sauce

7. It's Friday! woot! this week just seemed like a long one.

Miley Cyrus

So maybe I'm saying the words of a 60 year old here. But I was reading a blog article over at Catholic Exchange about a mother having to explain to her 11 year old about how the world expects something different than what her parents and God expect from her. That Miss Miley as entertaining as she is (seriously, I definitely laugh when I watch or more so listen to Hannah MontanaAnd maybe thats why its more entertaining to me, I simply listen to the jokes instead of examine the wardrobe), can be offputting to concerned parents when she dresses like a slut.
However, most women's fashions today have us all dressing like sluts. An unfortunate consequence of 60's feminism I think. We dress in less to display our womanly figure, but really we don't realize how detrimental our immodest dress is to society. We have men think nothing of us but sex objects, and if it isn't that far, they have to go to confession more frequently because there are women who forgot the whole shirt or skirt that make it so easy for a man to undress them with their eyes. And then we have young girls trying to emmulate their older sister, the women on TV or perhaps their mom, which in turn means that these little girls of 10, 11 or 12 now having to be taught comprehensive sex ed because their bodies are being clothed in a way that suggests that they are after sex.
So to come back to Miley, with her song lyrics being mostly clean, parents are more apt to let their children listen to her music. However, when she presents herself to be a sex object of all legs and breast showing shirts that pole dances and her parents approve, we run into issues. Pretty much all of her female back-up dancers were only wearing bras and underwear. The girl is 16! A 16 year old should still be innocent and not sexy. She can be sexy later with her husband, but not to the whole world. So yes, I am probably going to be labeled a prude after this, but I can take that.

the word is out

Since its past the 3 month mark, its more safe to say now that I am having a baby that is due March 6th. This is kinda super fun to me, the only scary part as of present is how my advisor will take it (since he seems to be out of the office again!). Anyway, we are gonna be surprised with whether is it is a boy or a girl, which is also super exciting. I have started thinking about things that I will need. I am a strange one, so I want to try things like cloth diapers and baby carriers instead of strollers for the first few months. Honestly, I am not sure how it will all go down when the time comes, but I am hopeful that these will work out. I also want to try co-sleeping which apparently helps with SIDS and such, and also lets you get more sleep, you just have to be ok with not having your privacy that you normally have. And the way I grew up, this is ok with me. I sometimes wonder how to go about registering for things, if people decide to throw a shower, because I don't want all the crazy gadgets, but instead would rather have just the basics, but good durable basics. So those are my thoughts, maybe I'm too what they call "granola" about my approach, but I just think that by being so, I can be more frugal and give more love instead of stuff and money to my mothering approach.

since ya'll know

I am gonna write my food likes and dislikes thus far:

Likes:
Most fruit
Thin Crust Pizza
Pickles
Cucumbers
Cheese
Rolls if they are buttery
Green Beans
Peppers
Perogies
Baked Potatoes
French Fries
Chips
Anything Chicken
Fresh Spinach
Pork
Jello
Bran-like Cereal

Dislikes:
Mushrooms
Candy
Milk Chocolate
Italian anything minus pizza
Peanut Butter
Fruit in Yogurt
Any Ice Cream besides dark chocolate or mint chocolate chip
Bread
Jelly
Ground Beef if its not in the form of a hamburger
Coffee due to acidity
Garlic and anything strongly garlic flavored

I am sure there are more likes and dislikes, but those are the ones that come to mind. Very odd things I think, but oh well it will come back to normal one day I am told.

seven quick takes, lazy Saturday edition

1. Successfully held a softball party last night, full of veggie eaters.

2. Took a two-hour nap this afternoon and it felt quite lovely.

3. Went to a garage sale this morning and had fun buying $1 clothes that had never been worn and were originally priced $40.

4. Keith has put in a major attempt to fix/clean the smelly dishwasher that really has been troublesome lately. I am praying that it works.

5. I am in a countdown mode till next Wednesday at 8am. For those of who know why, pray that it goes well.

6. This morning I actually made a hot breakfast which happens at the most 4 times a year. Keith declared it yummy, so in my book that is a success.

7. Laundry is all folded and about to be put away and its not even 5pm yet on Saturday.