Jami Remembers

This time of year is when I remember you most. When I miss you. When I feel the most guilty, though I know there was nothing I could have done, but I still feel like I should have. I should have protected you better - that's what I'm supposed to do. Sometimes I think maybe you are the lucky one: you won't know heartache or loss. You'll never be lonely or scared or lost. You won't have to say goodbye to anyone you love. But I still cry when I miss you. How can I miss someone I never met? How do we grieve for the one who never took a breath? I didn't get to hold you, but I loved you. I never saw you, but I knew you. And when we meet, I know you'll understand. No one will take your place in my heart. I love you; I remember you.

Jami's Friday Feast

Feast 170 Appetizer What is your favorite carnival/amusement park ride? Anything fast, high and dangerous-seeming, roller-coasters, etc. Soup How do you react in uncomfortable social situations? Depends on who's uncomfortable. If it's like everyone then I tend to change the subject/tell jokes. If it's just one person, I'll try to take the attention off him/her. If it's me, well, there's too many variables on that one. Salad On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being highest, how much do you enjoy discussing deep, philosophical topics? Gosh, that's hard. I don't like to spend hours and hours debating hypotheticals or doctrine or whatever, but I do like having deep conversations in some situations. Also, I love a good debate now and then. Main Course Did you get a flu shot this year? If not, do you plan to? No and no. Eddie got one, but he's in the crowd that's recommended to get one. Dessert Approximately how many hours per week do you spend watching television? Lots. Probably too many. Don't care. I love my TV.

Jami Finally Gets to Sit Down and Blog . .

and of all the things I've thought about all week long, not a thing occurs to me at the moment. Of course. We do have our winner for the Word Game - it's Lori, once again! What can I say about someone who has won so many times except that she is clearly leaving you all in the dust. Rules of the game are here. This week's word, which I choose because it just made me giggle is: furbelow - noun [fur'-buh-loh] 1. A ruffle or flounce on a garment. 2. A piece of showy ornamentation. My, that there is an attractive furbelow. You know, in honor of the season. And because, in my head, it is said like the two words it's got in it, the Fur Below. So, go on out there and give someone's furbelow an encomium. Anyway, Eddie got his first ever black eye today. Poor guy, he and another nice little boy were playing a game which involved them running in big circles in opposite directions when they collided. Unfortunately for Eddie, the other boy is just a touch shorter and had his head down. Recovery was quick thanks to a Capri-Sun given to us by the quick-thinking Gymboree teacher, which both cooled his eye and raised his spirits (a.k.a., sugar levels). Soon we were back to running in circles. Of course, I tried not to look unkindly on the other boy, but this did reinforce my belief that I am not the kind of mom who could deal with him playing contact sports. It's for the safety of other children, really. My Christmas decorations are up. However, I am exactly half done with one person on my list, have not a single card filled out or even the pictures taken for them, and I can't even think about baking cookies. So, all-in-all, on par with where I usually am. That's it for today; don't forget to play the Word Game, unless you fear Lori's prowess. As well you should.

Jami's Next Word Game Winner, and a Few Notes

Well, you might think it's obvious as we had only one entry, again. Lori, who has won previously, definitely gets bonus points for the conversation, which gave me a good chuckle. However, I am going to declare it a tie, Lori and my mom, who didn't post, but did use the week's Word in a purposeful and amusing way. Even though my mom didn't follow the rules about posting, since she used it in conversation with me, I'll give her props. Congratulations to Lori and Jami's Mom, Thanksgiving Word Winners. A harder one, this week, one I didn't even know - this week's Word: encomium - noun, (ěn-kō'mē-əm) 1. Warm, glowing praise. 2. A formal expression of praise; a tribute. To everyone else, I hope your Thanksgiving was as great as ours, with excellent food, plenty of loved ones and more. The Husband and I went to see Avenue Q, which I'll be reviewing shortly on Circle of Friends Reviews. I will say here though, that as my friend Tim has noted previously, anything is funnier if a puppet says it. Also I'll be adding a few Christmas-themed reviews, so it'll be worth your while to check out. An encomium, if you will, to media for the season. I never, ever go anywhere on Black Friday, so I'm in my comfy sweats, TV on, Eddie at Grammy's house, eating a recipe I like to call "Cold Turkey with Salt" and loving it.

Jami Is Zoe

Just for fun: Your results:You are Zoe Washburne (Second-in-command) Zoe Washburne (Second-in-command) 80% Wash (Ship Pilot) 70% River (Stowaway) 65% Derrial Book (Shepherd) 60% Kaylee Frye (Ship Mechanic) 55% Dr. Simon Tam (Ship Medic) 55% Malcolm Reynolds (Captain) 50% Jayne Cobb (Mercenary) 45% Alliance 40% Inara Serra (Companion) 35% A Reaver (Cannibal) 25% Dependable and trustworthy. You love your significant other and you are a tough cookie when in a conflict. Click here to take the Serenity Firefly Personality Test Which is who I assumed I'd be, anyway. I know what you're thinking, I look exactly like Zoe, too. Okay, she's a little taller, but other than that, it's striking, really. If this doesn't mean anything to you, then go rent the Firefly fly series DVDs right now. I mean it.

Jami and Beloved Stanley

I never did announce it, but I named my iPod. His name is Stanley I. Poddy, though his close friends call him Poddy. I occasionally call him Beloved Stanley because I adore him. I had been wearing "real" headphones with Poddy, because I don't really like earbuds and for the life of me, I can't get them to stay in my ears. I think I just have malformed ears. Unfortunately, my real headphones were super-cheapy-free-with-purchase ones I'd had for awhile and they died. Very sad. I've taken to wearing the earbuds, since I didn't have anything else, and I've found a way to wear them that suits me. Basically, I run the cord up behind my ears and rest the buds on the top of my ears, like tiny speakers broadcasting from my head. Not only does this keep the buds in place more effectively, it also gives me a vaguely alien appearance, like I have antennas that I just didn't quite manage to hide. And that makes me silly-happy. Every time I catch my reflection with my little white antennas, I just grin. Just one more reason I love Poddy. Then, on the Simpsons opening a couple weeks ago, Bart wrote on the blackboard "There's no such thing as an iPoddy." Of course, Stanley is an "I. Poddy" but still. We were incensed. Even Eddie is familiar with Poddy. He calls it "Mommy's pod-pod" and will listen to one of the buds, if I let him. If it's music, he'll dance a little. If it's talk, he'll bring the bud down to his mouth and say "Hi, mommy's people". He's brilliant. Just think, he'll not remember a time before iPods. And so, Eddie, the Husband, Joxer, Stanley I. Poddy and I all wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving. Go forth and eat much. PS - I had originally written that I had alien-like antennae, but when I double-checked the spelling, I learned that the plural for the mechanical kind is antennas whereas the kind on animals is the -ae plural. Since mine are mechanical, even if they are on my very own human head, I went with the -as plural. Any English majors want to chime in on which of those is more appropriate?

Jami Waxes Philosophical About Parenting

Not too long ago, some friends of mine - let's call them Bob and Mary - had their first baby. Bob told me about the day after, as they were leaving the hospital. He signed the insurance form things, and the nurse at the check-out desk, or whatever it's called at the hospital, said "Okay, bye-bye and congratulations!" Bob was concerned. "That's it? We just leave?" Nurse: "You have a carseat in the car, right?" Bob: "Yes." Nurse: "Then that's it. Okay, bye-bye!" Bob told me he couldn't believe that he and Mary (both mature, responsible people with advanced degrees in scientific areas) would just be allowed to leave, unaided, unsupervised, with this helpless little infant. He tried again, "Don't you have instructions or pamphlets or something to give us?" I am sure the nurse has dealt with insane new parents before. She assured him that no, babies don't come with instructions, or even pamphlets and they'd be just fine. Poor Bob. He strapped his baby into the (seriously incorrectly installed) carseat and left. We discussed how odd it is to basically just be handed a baby and sent home. If you don't know, we adopted. Imagine meeting strangers in a hotel lobby who hand a baby over to you, for keeps! And it wasn't even their baby. Truthfully, we had it a little better than Bob and Mary; Eddie's foster mom actually gave us some instructions. I don't have much point here except that parenting, however you get there, is a sort of weird occurrence. One day you're not parents and the next day, you are. No matter how you think you've prepared, I think you suddenly realize that you aren't, but you'd better be. Just saying.

Jami's Friday Feast

Feast 169 Appetizer What was your first “real” job? I was in charge of the church's nursery when I was 16. $20 a week, which was enough to do the fun stuff my friends wanted to without having to wear a uniform. Soup Where would you go if you wanted to spark your creativity? India. It looks like it's so colorful everywhere and there's such diversity in the people and customs. Salad Complete this sentence: I am embarrassed when… Gosh, I'm hard to embarrass - let's see - uh, when I have let out a huge belch because I forget my social skills after years of working with engineers, followed by being a stay-at-home mom. Main Course What values did your parents instill in you? Generosity, a strong work ethic, honesty, responsibility, proper grammar - basically all the good ones. Dessert Name 3 fads from your teenage years. BIG BIG BIG hair, bleached jeans, way too much eye makeup

Jami's Word Game Returns

So here's how it works. I give you the word, you use it in conversation in the next week, post the conversation in the comments of this post and I pick the winner - the person I feel used the word best. So easy. So do it. This week's word an easy one, chosen because I just watched the episode of King of the Hill where it is over and semi-incorrectly used: resplendent [ris-splend -duhnt] adjective - shining brilliantly; gleaming; splendid So, go forth, use the word and post your resplendent conversation here. . . .

Jami Wonders Why You Lie

Okay, maybe not you personally, but then again maybe. I say this because a couple weeks ago I had a dentist appointment. When the hygienist asked me if I'd been flossing, for the first time ever I said "yes!" It's the first time, because every other time, I've either just given the bland "no" or the pathetic but true "I did it for a few days, but I hate it so much I stopped." That's why I got annoyed when she later said "Okay, but remember you really do have to floss." She wasn't my usual, so I'll forgive her. Of course, later I realized that she didn't necessarily think that I, personally, am a liar, but that patients probably lie to her all day long, every day. I read a couple years ago, an article about how researchers estimate that 76% of patients lie to their doctors (not necessarily dentists) at every visit. What is wrong with you people? There are a couple articles on line about how doctors know what patients lie, but of course, they can't always know when or who or what you are lying about. I just don't get the point of lying to your doctor, and here's why: 1. You see your doctor, what, twice a year - maybe? What do you care if he/she thinks you drink too much or smoke too much or eat too much bacon? Your doctor most likely doesn't think about you past the end of the day of your visit; I sincerely doubt that they go home and tell their spouses what a horrible person you are. 2. The obvious - your doctor is trying to help you, and if you lie to him/her, you are just asking for a life-threatening error or misdiagnosis. 3. If you are so ashamed to be doing something that you can't even admit it to someone who is NOT ALLOWED LEGALLY to tell anyone else what you're doing and has seen you naked and will see you naked again, then you shouldn't be doing it. When I hear about people lying to their doctors, I wonder what my doctor must think of me. When she says "Do you exercise?" I say "Oh, I regularly start exercising, do really well for a few weeks and then find an excuse to slowly stop it all together. When she says "Do you drink alcohol?" I tell her "Every few months I usually have some sort of night out where I have a few more than I probably should." When she asks "Do you watch what you eat?" I say "In the sense that I see it before it goes into my mouth, yes. . . ." So, if doctors assume you are worse than you admit, she must think it's a miracle I'm still standing. I get that some people see doctors as some sort of authority figure and get some sort of rush from either "getting away with it" or from pleasing the doctor, even if it's a lie. If you're one of the former, you're just getting away with it until the lie kills you. The latter, your doctor doesn't give out gold stars and he's not going to go home and tell his wife and kids what a peach you are, so knock it off. That's my PSA for the day. And by the way, YAY STEELERS!!!!

Jami's Friday Feast and Word Game Winner

Feast 168 Appetizer Which snack do you like to get when you go to the movies? Popcorn, lots of butter OR if it's fresh popped: salt no butter! Soup What year did you start using the Internet? 1994, one of my co-interns on my summer internship showed me how to use it, even thought at the time I didn't want to let him know that I'd never done anything except email from my college computer lab. Salad What is your first name in Pig Latin? Mee-Jay Main Course Name something you are picky about. Geez, do you have the time? I could make you a giant list. Let's say, I can't stand eating eggs and cheese if I see them touching. I love eggs, I love cheese, and I even eat them on the same sandwich, as long as they aren't touching each other on the sandwich. Ham is a nice barrier to protect the eggs from the cheese. Dessert Fill in the blanks: I ____ ____ yesterday and I ____ ____ today. I cleaned house yesterday and I am cleaning today. AND THE WINNER IS: Lori, once again! Thank for playing the Word Game and I'll post a new word next week.

Jami's Few Quick Photos of Eddie

Eddie, the happiest giraffe at Zoo Boo.

Eddie Bond examines his treasures. The bucket and sippy pumpkin were gifts from one of the Husband's coworkers.

Gooooooooo STEELERS!!!!

Eddie and his cousin, Baby Z, hang out at Grammy's house.

The aftermath of the infamous "Elmo Cupcake Incident".

Eddie built a tower of things he could reach from his crib in a breakout attempt.
Eddie's First Day of Preschool - October 5, 2007. He had more fun than it looks from the picture.

Jami Returns, With Eddie's Permission

No, I am not part of the writers' strike, I just haven't made the time to sit and blog. Yes, I'll do the Word Game tomorrow, like I'd planned to last Thursday. No, it's not in your blog, it's in your everyday conversations. Whew. Halloween was a trip. Eddie decided to have a major two-year-old moment and protested costumes. Three adorable costumes and he refused to even come within a yard of any of them. Can't trick-or-treat in street clothes, even if you are the world's most adorable toddler; what to do? I told him I'd just change his clothes and put him in his tuxedo from his uncle's wedding and poof! Bond, Eddie Bond. The little scammer got extra candy from most houses by looking up at the home owner, and with his sweetest little baby voice saying "More, please?" like some overdressed Oliver. Of course it worked. Even with me saying "Oh, please no, he's got so much." His cuteness and manners made them all comply. The next morning, I let him wear his tux, which he now apparently loves, to Gymboree. Let me tell you, you haven't seen adorable until you've seen a tiny Hispanic James Bond scaling the "bumpy wall" and crawling through the tunnel. Currently I am typing this while chanting "Go, Eddie, go Eddie! Go, go, go Eddie!" in the style mostly associated with 80s breakdancers while my son shakes his groove-thang in the living room. If I stop the cheer, even for 3 seconds to take a swig of diet Coke, I am reprimanded by Tiny Breakin' Dictator Man. You don't have a 2-year-old; they have you.