Mama-luia

Rarely does my breakfast inspire philosophical reflection, and if it does, it's certainly not worthy of a blog entry. Today might just be the exception. I got up this morning, and after rangling some laundry, I sat down to a delicious bowl of homemade granola and a cup of red raspberry leaf tea . I stared at my food and recalled a conversation I had had with my mother on the phone just last night. When discussing some of my views on birth (a topic worthy of it's own post: coming soon!), she casually mentioned how I might come off as "granola" to some. I laughed; it's not a term I shy away from entirely. As I began to feast this morning, my inveterate nerdiness, or at least Internet addiction, made me just have to look it up on Wikipedia . The description of the adjectival form of "granola" left me unsatisfied, however. "'Granola'" is also used as a slang term ( metonym ) describing a person who is hippie -like, a modern bohemia...

There are some questions a pregnant woman gets used to being asked repeatedly . Perhaps I speak in too declaratory a fashion, this being my first pregnancy, and having asked no other pregnant woman if she's experienced a similar phenomenon. Nonetheless, I have grown accustomed to being asked over and over the following (list not exhaustive!) : "Do you know if it's a boy or a girl?" "Have you picked out names yet?" "When is your due date?" (I am particularly fond of being asked this question, because I can then smile sweetly and say, "In the middle of my husband's finals." I love shock value.) "How are you FEELING?" Often accompanied by the word "sweetheart", "darling" or some other pet name, and frequently said with a vague wince on the face of the person doing the asking. That facial expression always makes me feel as though I am supposed to say "terrible, exhausted, overwhelmed, petrified, const...

1. Remember the movie Brewster’s Millions? That happens to you, except on a smaller scale. You receive a million dollars that you must spend in 30 days. However, you cannot have any assets to show for the money at the end of the month (and you can’t buy something and then destroy it), you cannot waste the money, you cannot give it away, and you cannot tell anyone what you are doing. How do you ditch the dough in a month or less? This seems like a really stupid question. What else is there? It seems as though I'm allowed to spend the money and give the OBJECTS I spent it on away. So perhaps I'll do that. First, though, I'll pay off my school debt, my husband's and pay his tuition for the year. That can't be considered having a "asset" at the end of the month, right? Then I'll pay our rent for the remainder of the year. Again, we'll have nothing to show for it. And I can do it without telling the DH, to fulfill another rule on this odd question. That...

Last night, while my DH attended night class, I plunked down and created a blog. There were dishes piled high in the sink and laundry still sitting in a basket from (gulp...) Friday. Yet I still felt drawn to the computer, like a moth to a flame. My DH returned from class and I showed him my creation. He looked at it, raised an eyebrow cautiously and said, "Did you mean to not capitalize the 'f' in 'first'?" He is very hesitant to correct my spelling and grammar, because not only am I a particularly sensitive pregnant lady, I also work as a professional editor. To correct me might somehow suggest I was failing at my job. "Yes, of course, dear. It's Last Things first." I smiled proudly. He blinked. "You know, Last Things?" I could hardly believe I was explaining this to my DH who hopes to embark on an M.A. in Theology very soon. His eyes lit up. He then quickly suggested I inform my readers in my next post what I was getting at. ...

I know it is customary in blog world to write an introduction to oneself on the first post, and even, to write an apologia of what's to come on said blog. I could do that, but I won't. You see, lately, I have been craving more intimacy with people. I want to be frank with them about my thoughts, and have them, too, be frank with me. I keep thinking about how 'admonishing the sinner' is a spiritual work of mercy. Even in close circles of friends, it's still just so taboo to correct another person, even gently. In reality, I would be so grateful if someone would admonish me from time to time. Lord knows I could use it! As I prepare for the birth of my first child, I find myself nesting, not just by tidying and beautifying my apartment, but preparing a spiritual home for my baby. That 'home' includes a community of people who will love this child, pray for him or her, and support me and the DH during the difficulties that will inevitably arise as we stumble j...