Logodaedaly

adjrun @ 2007-12-11T11:37:00

2007-12-11T19:40:02Z

YAY!

I got a new job. And it's one I actually want!

I'll be working for the Oregon PERS as of Jan. 2. It's better pay, it's SO close to my house, it's work that uses my teaching background....

Just, YAY!

This TOTALLY makes up for the fact that we had to buy new doors. :)

adjrun @ 2007-11-21T15:27:00

2007-11-21T23:28:00Z

Squirrels ate my internet.

I shit you not.

It should be back up today.

adjrun @ 2007-11-19T15:47:00

2007-11-19T23:50:14Z

We're doing Christmas cards this year. Needless to say, they will feature a certain smiley boy who can now race down the hall.

Ya want one?

View Poll: Christmas Cards!!

I'm taking him for his first haircut on Friday. The poor kid's hair goes every which way, and he has a cowlick! Right up front!! So yeah, on the busiest shopping day (which I know really isn't) of the year, I'll be buying a haircut and a new toilet.

Envy me.

I should make pie crust tonight. I should also work out. I'll prolly just sit around and watch Chuck.

adjrun @ 2007-11-01T19:34:00

2007-11-02T02:38:57Z

BEST thing about the new digs? We had trick-or-treaters.

Not just one or two, either. PACKS. Packs of trick-or-treaters, we had. At least forty.

How awesome is that?!?! YAY!

Declan did not dress up for Halloween, as he is recovering from a double ear infection. His second in the last month or so, poor little man. He did, however, go to a costume party with his mama on Saturday. See?

It would be more ecologically correct if I'd pinned a seal on the front of his polar bear outfit. I know that, and it irks me a wee bit. But the only seal we found was white, and not nearly contrasty enough. Also, another little baby at the party who's only about two weeks older than D-man? Dressed as a penguin. It was adorable.

You can also see the bruises on his face.

He's walking. Like, across the room walking. I'm DOOMED, I tells ya!

What else? I'm not hating my new job, but it's not a dream job either so I'm still looking. I'm getting remarkably fannish about Supernatural and I'm kinda hooked on the cheesetastic goodness that is Blood Ties. For new shows, I'm liking Chuck, Reaper, and Life -- and I have a kajillion shows to catch up on online.

Jer's blood sugar is much better, and the bastard has lost 25 pounds since his diagnosis. He's looking like he did when we first started dating. Well, except for the gray hair. Hee.

adjrun @ 2007-09-13T14:01:00

2007-09-13T18:23:44Z

Baa Baa Sheep!

These are my responses after the short quiz. #1 cracks my shit up, as does #8 (I like to live as religion-free a life as possible...)

1. Probation / Parole Officer
2. Curator
3. Director of Photography
4. Director
5. Professor
6. Anthropologist
7. Set Designer
8. Clergy
9. Costume Designer
10. Foreign Service Officer
11. ESL Teacher
12. Sport Psychology Consultant
13. Foreign Language Instructor
14. Music Teacher / Instructor
15. Psychologist
16. Humanitarian Aid Worker
17. Rehabilitation Counselor
18. Historian
19. Lobbyist
20. Archivist

After taking the more EXTENDED quiz, I got these answers:

1. Communications Specialist
2. Professor
3. Lobbyist
4. Anthropologist
5. Historian
6. ESL Teacher
7. Public Policy Analyst
8. Political Aide
9. Adoption Counselor
10. Probation / Parole Officer
11. Archivist
12. Researcher
13. Costume Designer
14. Medical Transcriptionist
15. Website Designer
16. Lawyer
17. Civil Litigator
18. High School Teacher
19. Office Manager
20. Artist

What does "Communications Specialist" even mean? And I've actually been a high school teacher. My mom thinks that I'd make an excellent lawyer, as I love to debate stuff. The problem with that is, then you have to hang around with, y'know, lawyers.

Well, They're Not Pool Pics, But...

2007-09-05T19:40:31Z

I've been remiss about posting pictures of the lad. He's now eight months old, and quite possibly cuter than ever. :)

Here's Declan with Daddy, just out of the bath. It's from about a month ago.

He hangs with Daddy a lot.

A lot a lot.

Sometimes with mommy, too. ;)

And occasionally with canadia_bit's foot.

Yup, he's standing now.

And trying to walk.

He can't be bothered to crawl, though.

He does still roll.

He loves pears.

And sweet potatoes.

Not so much with the rice cereal. Or green beans.

This is quite possibly the cutest photo ever.

Now, I'd like to give you the words to the song we sing to Declan every night before his bath. Sing along with me!

I like to be naked!

I like to have no clothes on

I like to be NAKED!!

Nakey, nakey, nakey, nakey

NAKED.

And then we sleep.

This next pic? He's completely asleep. He still managed to flip over, pivot himself 180 degrees on his back (when this pic was taken), flip over again, and push himself back down the bed.

Every night we put him in bed in basically the position of the first pic. And almost every night he travels in his sleep. Last night he was smooshed into the corner. With his ass in the air.

But as any experienced mom will tell you, it doesn't matter how he sleeps. It's THAT he sleeps. And D-boy can sleep 8-9 hours at a stretch. Hoo-ah!

Next post: the U.S. Open. Hot sweaty men, yay!

adjrun @ 2007-09-04T19:25:00

2007-09-04T23:26:25Z

Your Score: House Targaryen

72% Dominant, 63% Extroverted, 72% Trustworthy

Ancient. Noble. Passionate to the point of insanity. Transcending lesser beings, you are of House Targaryen.

You are a dominant personality—in fact, you are the most dominant of all eight house types. You will not suffer yourself to be ignored. You will not suffer yourself to be ruled. The phrase "I will not suffer myself to _____!" was practically made for you. You are willful, arrogant, and exceedingly dangerous to screw with. With a temper like yours, anyone stupid enough to saunter into your line of fire won’t soon forget their mistake.

You are also extroverted, which means that everyone in the world knows exactly what your intentions are. Unlike your cohorts (who hide behind smiles and courtesies and court politics), you think of it as your birthright to come riding in on an enormous dragon, breathing fire and fucking your siblings. Hey, what you lack in subtlty, you make up in style!

Finally, you are trustworthy. Your absurd amounts of power and borderline psychosis are not used unjustly. Unlike many, your general aims are just and true. You we bred for rule, and the fact that you cannot rest until you are doing so is not your fault. If you make up your mind, it becomes reality. Never one for empty threats or vainglorious lies, you can only speak the truth. And the truth is "fire and blood."

Representative characters include: Daenerys Stormborn, Rhaegar Targaryen, and Viserys Targaryen

Similar Houses: Baratheon, Lannister,and Tully

Opposite House: Frey

When playing the game of thrones, you play it to the death.

Link: The Song of Ice and Fire House Test written by Geeky_Stripper on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the The Dating Persona Test

Hopefully I'm a Rhaegar, and not a Viserys. :)

I bet you thought it'd say "Ravenclaw." Snerk.

adjrun @ 2007-08-30T17:52:00

2007-08-30T21:52:56Z

GIP. My first ever icon. In MS Paint. Woot!

Thank goodness it's all about the subject.

Multipicture baby post is long overdue, and shall be happening soon. Promise.

adjrun @ 2007-08-29T19:47:00

2007-08-30T00:47:18Z

What is this sensation I'm feeling? It it? Could it be? Am I feeling all fannish and squee-y again?

I think I might be. Hmm.

Or maybe I'm just looking for something to get fannish and squee-y about again. Something new to get crazy and crushy about and gleeful about.

I think part of it is that I'm finally over the loss of Christopher Eccleston as The Doctor. I can't help it -- I like David Tennant, and all, but Chris -- even in the middle of grand goofiness, he had this capacity for tragedy. It's like he felt so much as the Doctor his skin could barely contain it. There are sooo many moments where the purity of what he's feeling as the Doctor brings tears to my eyes. ("And everybody lives, Rose!")

Conversely, Tennant? Tennant just can't escape a certain boyishness and lightness in my eyes. He didn't bring the same depth of feeling.

Here's the perfect casting for Tennant -- he's Algy in The Importance of Being Earnest, all wearing striped waistcoats and lolling on couches and saying, "What do you mean, there are no more cucumber sandwiches?" Yes, being madly in love with the girl and all, but to a very silly and light effect.

Damn. He'd make an excellent Algy.

I don't love him as much as the Doctor, though. I know, he's a different actor and a different character - sort of - and I oughtn't compare. Much. Sure, he's the running-jumping-action Doctor. I quite like the enthusiasm, and the intellectual curiosity he brings to the role -- the fun! The ep with Anthony Stewart Head last season was really cool. But I never really felt the loss that Eccleston brought to the part.

Now this season, which is currently airing on Sci Fi, I do. It's like he's more open to feeling the loss of Gallifrey because he's also mourning the loss of Rose. The ep that aired last Friday is the first one I really think I want to rewatch. It was awesome! Scary, and weird, and heartfelt. I just really liked it.

Torchwood also approacheth. I watched the first half; then stupid having a baby happened, and I got behind, and then downloading became an impossibility. It may be possible again, but my home computer time is pretty limited. It's much easier to veg in front of the tv and feed baby than to try to entertain him while catching something online. Which means I watch it on BBC, starting over. Yay! Captain Jack! Dare I even say, SQUEE!!

Now, in terms of the Brit-boy options, I have two potential actor-candidates to crush on.

Candidate A: Gerard Butler

Pros:

* Is smokin' hot.
* Is also kind of a goofball. Which can be a plus in my book.
* Has appeared in numerous cheesy-bad movies (Dracula 2000, Tomb Raider 2, Timeline) in which really, the only reason to watch them is that he's smokin' hot. Well, and Timeline has trebuchets.
* Has at least one schmoopy romantic film to his credit, ie. Dear Frankie.
* The Jury, which I watched primarily because he was in it back in 2002, is out on dvd. It ain't cheap, but it's out; and he's kind of awesome in it.
* Gratuitous upper-body eye-candy moment in TR2 involving pull-ups and cage bars. (adj plays happily in the shallow end o' the pool, thankyew)
* Appears to have some good movies coming out, including a Guy Ritchie one in which he will undoubtedly weild guns and look kewl and shit.
* Almost all of aforesaid cheesy films are $10 or less on dddvd.com.
* The 300 probably features an assload of extras in which I can see him being both smokin' hot and goofbally.
* Had approx. 3% body fat in The 300.

Cons:

* The 300 SUCKED. Gerard Butler didn't suck, but the movie sure did.
* Gerard Butler, with a long beard, looks a little too much like my dad; also, there's WAAAAAAY too much eye makeup, so he's a drag queen in a beard. In The 300.
* Most of the fans of Gerard Butler annoy me because they noticed him when he starred in Phantom of the Opera; and Andrew Lloyd Webber annoys the crap out of me.
* Phantom of the Opera is the second lamest musical ever written.
* The lamest musical ever written is Cats.
* That's right, Phantom of the Opera is lamer than the musical Webber wrote which featured actors on skates playing choo-choo trains. It's also lamer than the musical based on Clay Aiken fans, or even Cop Rock.
* Also, if he sang the Phantom, that means he's a tenor. Blech. Maybe they lowered it for him, but I can't be arsed to find out. Fuckin' Phantom of the Opera.
* People who love Phantom of the Opera annoy the crap out of me. Period. I mean, POTO FANGIRLS!?!?! He's a nutball stalker with mommy issues! Gah!
* One more asterisk because it's Phantom of the Opera.
* Next film out may be too schmoopy for words, as he plays Hilary Swank's dead husband. Film may also annoy me as they cast James Marsters in it, and James is RILLY annoying me right now.

Candidate B: Damian Lewis

Pros:

* Is a damn good actor.
* Played Benedick, the best Shakespearean romantic hero EVAH, in the ShakespeaRetold version of Much Ado About Nothing. I loves me some Benedick!
* Said Much Ado is available on DVD at Amazon! And it's actually affordable (and in a pack with the AWESOMEAWESOMEAWESOME Taming of the Shrew, as well as the rather morose Macbeth). Billie Piper! Sarah Parish! Newsroom! Benedick! Fun!
* Was utterly and completely awesome as Dick Winters in Band of Brothers on HBO -- that perfect taciturn, unassuming, STANDUP hero type. So awesome.
* Has a couple of cheesy movies which I could track down, including one based on a Stephen King novel. Or novella.
* Stars in The Forsyte Saga, in which he is brilliant. And which I own.
* Has show starting this fall, so crush means would get Weekly Dose of Damian.

Cons:

* Life won't last. It'll break my heart like Eyes did. And Firefly. And a long line of shows going back to Nowhere Man. Dammit.
* Redhead. Adj (shallow, remember?) has crushed on only two redheads in her life, evah. One was Boris Becker. One is Toby Stephens. She doesn't even find a single Weasley boy cute. That's right, she's cold. Damian Lewis would be a third. Kind of a big deal.
* Is a total asshole in The Forsyte Saga, so it's not a fun watch. Also, may get distracted by the shiny pretty of Ioan Gruffudd.
* Fewer projects which will be easy to buy on the cheap. Tends to do smaller British films, etc, and less cheese.
* Really, not as pretty as Gerry.

I'm torn. Maybe I'll get the ShakespeaRetold thingie and then decide, 'cause I'll get to see some smoochies. Heh.

I'm trying to decide what, when I have a crush on an actor, I absolutely need to see in a cinematic role. I think for me, the dealsealers boil down to three things:

1) Being injured and still persevering. Damn you, Indiana Jones, for making me a hurt/comfort freako! Also see Sharpe, Jaime Lannister, Horatio Hornblower, Neo... (and therefore Bean, Ioan, Keanu) Ooh! And John Crichton!

2) Steadfast love regardless of whether that love is returned. The really unselfish stuff, you know? Colonel Brandon KEELS me on this one. Also Gabriel Oak in the PBS Far From the Madding Crowd, that kind of thing. Or Vaughn in Ultraviolet. (Guh. Idris.) Ooh! And John Crichton!

3) Kissing. I like to see a pretty boy kissing someone. I would never ever have any twinkling of a crush on Viggo Mortenson, despite how nifty he is as Aragorn, etc., if he didn't look that good kissing Sandra Bullock in 28 Days. And just the thought of that makes me take a little mental break. Mmm, kissing. So much sexier than, well, sex, onscreen. Needless to say, John Crichton!

What do you need in a fictional boyfriend/fantasy crush? What do you pop in the dvd-player when you're in the mood to swoon? Do you just go for the pretty? Does banter get you? Does HoYay! banter get you, like in Ocean's 11? Do you need a specific trope, or moment? Is it the physical, or the voice, or the embodiment of the character? Or is it some undefinable, intangible quicksilver?

And who knows? Maybe the fall shows hold something wonderful. Something that can obsess and enthrall me. I've liked, but it's been a while since I've LOVED. Maybe I'm ready again.

*crosses fingers*

adjrun @ 2007-08-22T17:42:00

2007-08-22T21:53:08Z

GAH! I'm reading LJ and all these people are already posting their fall schedules. I'm not ready for Fall TV, people!! I can't do it until I get some expert input. I've given up on the Fall Preview of TV Guide, but I have to have some critical input. Entertainment Weekly, or Matt Roush at tvguide.com, or something. Right now, my schedule would be based on inchoate stuff like having had the Bionic Woman Board Game as a child, or an incontrollable shudder of revulsion whenever someone brings up the concept of Cavemen, or the fact that I have a wee bit of a crush on Damien Lewis after having glutted myself on Band of Brothers recently, and therefore I'm planning to watch Life.

I mean, I'll watch stuff just 'cause y'all are watching it. At least initially. But what are you basing these decisions on? The cute boys, or the holes in your schedule wherein you are already watching the cute boys? Hype, like I've seen for Pushing Daisies (though I've also seen comments of "Twee.") or antihype, like for Viva Laughlin or the aforementioned *shudder* Cavemen?

And speaking of which, there seems to be rather a dearth of cute boys on the new fall shows. They couldn't find a ripoff vampire detective hotter than that?!?!?! It's debatable whether he beats the Forever Knight guy in the hot department. Feh.

adjrun @ 2007-08-21T13:10:00

2007-08-21T17:53:08Z

I've been meaning to post since last week about the trip to Indianapolis. Unfortunately, the random cough on the flight back turned into three-day fever and ongoing lung-coughing-up and horrendous lack of ability to sleep at night due to said fever/coughing. I've therefore been walking around in a vaguely gray haze knowing full well that I could not give my darlings their due when I have the mental capacity of a slighty overcooked pudding.

I've been back a week now, however, and if I don't speak now I'll probably forever hold my peace. And/or have forgotten everything.

Indianapolis was fabulous! Fortunately Declan was an excellent traveller and his usual charming self, or my brain could've exploded on the flight. And Indianapolis itself, weather-wise, is a bit like checking the dryer halfway through a cycle -- where you just get hit in the face with hot. It really does take going elsewhere to make one appreciate the weather of one's home. All we have is a little dinky rain. Lovely!

I'm really not much of a NASCAR/racing fan, but the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is pretty nifty, and quite the feat of engineering. My father-in-law is appropriately envious of my visiting such a Mecca of turning left. But I haven't given him his hat yet.

Still not a racing fan.

Biggest moment of culture shock: the Cracker Barrel. I didn't know you could make a chocolate cobbler.

And I've GOT to find a good Greek restaurant around here. I'm missing that hummus. Plus, FLAMING CHEESE!

Now to the most important thing: the girls. fenwic, I just keep on adoring you more and more. And I'll never watch the "Run Crichton, Run!" eppy without thinking of you. canadia_bit, I'm sorry I missed most of the Dressing Sunny Time -- especially after the success of last summer's Dressing Fenny! Maybe this should be a tradition, and we can find another victim for the Couv. I can tell you're a fantastic Auntie, as you were fantastic with Declan. I can't wait to show Jer that video. And I miss you already. angelchicken, it was so good to see you! And thank you again for the bling -- I feel like I should wear it and have superpowers. What would pink Kryptonite do, anyway? juliedarling, it was lovely to meet you! And Declan loved meeting you too! So many people on my flist whom I adore think you're the bee's knees. I'm looking forward to feeling the same. enkeli, I've officially decided that I have to start stalking you or something. We neither of us are on LJ often enough, darn it! And these weekends are just long enough for me to revel in how fabulous you are -- not long enough to get used to the fabulousness. I don't suppose you'd want to move to Portland?

(BTW, enkeli and I? We got carded, buying booze. CARDED. I'm closer to twice the drinking age than I am to 21. Even if you go off of that, "Card if they look 27" thing, er... not very damn likely. It's possible that we were acting seventeen, though, and that younged us up.

CARDED.)

Finally, sunbrae, thank you soooo much for hosting this madcap affair. It was, as it always is, so lovely to see you. I hope that I raise my boy to be as kind, as thoughtful, and as fun as your Monkeys are. Give each of them big hugs and raspberries for me!

The one thing I regret about bringing the D-man with me is that I feel like I didn't get nearly enough time with everyone. He had to be my first focus and attention, as well he should be -- but it also means that other people got fit in around my attention to the baby. Next year, guys!

adjrun @ 2007-08-08T17:41:00

2007-08-08T21:50:16Z

Okay. You know you're low on sleep when two nonfat double-shot lattes do NOTHING. Absolutely nada. Nil. Zip.

*yawn*

Declan's been sick for the last three days, with a fever as high as 103.4. Yes, that's right, he's HOT BLOODED. HOT BLOODED!!! (that's another indicator that my brain has turned to cheese) So I've walked around totally stressed out, I was up between 12:30 and 5:00 on Monday trying to deal with fussy baby, the whole nine yards. There's no diagnosis, as the fever's the only symptom. And I'm a new enough mom that when he does sleep and he's sick, I have to keep checking to make sure he's still breathing.

Last night he slept better (Yay!) and he ate more (Yay!). Then I call into daycare to inform them that he'll not be gracing them with his presence and they say, "A fever with no other symptoms? Yeah, that's been running around the infant room. It's been lasting three days and then done." Today is three days.

I've called my mom three times from work. He's fine, he's sleeping, he's doing better.

All that stress which was keeping me upright? *makes air going out of a balloon sound* Man, I can barely stand up. I remember when he was only a month or so old and getting more than three hours of sleep at a whack was a luxury. I was STUPID all the time, but I didn't need sleep.

Screw you, sleep, getting all "necessary" again.

The good thing is that I should be able to bundle him on a plane tomorrow morning to take him to Indianapolis. He's still teething, but that ain't no thing. He's usually pretty charming even when he's exhausted.

adjrun @ 2007-07-12T14:59:00

2007-07-12T22:18:49Z

Gah. I feel horribly behind. On life, on LJ, on... you name it. I need some way that I can stop time, just to get caught up on everything. Wouldn't that be awesome?

I watched three lovely hours of Doctor Who on Sunday morning (like, from 1-4, as Declan was up) and it just made me miss the show desperately. It was the stuff that got aired on Sci-Fi. That's how behind I am. Plus I've caught all of half of Torchwood. And I don't think I can even find my seasons of Nine and first Ten, as they were not-quite-legal downloads and the burned discs are now... well, they're in a box somewhere, unlike the legal stuff. Which means I'll just have to go buy the actual sets. Some time. Those bastidges ain't cheap!

Just watching those two eps made all the love come back. I think a big chunk of that is that he so clearly missed Rose. It wasn't just "Hoop! That's done, and on to the next one." He was all sad and stuff. And people are making reference to Captain Jack coming back on Doctor Who, which I shall get to see, but that's a ways away now, isn't it?

I would also point out that it's nearly impossible for me to watch stuff online right now. I can nurse baby or hold sacked out baby whilst I watch actual TV -- but until I get a laptop (and maybe not even then) I cannot compute and baby-monitor.

And if it comes down to an either-or on that one, the either wins every time. :)

SPEAKING OF WHICH!!

This now devolves completely into baby stuff. Be forewarned.

Declan is now six months old. Well, he was as of July 2nd, actually. At his six-month checkup he was 16 lbs, 9 oz (25th percentile) and 26-1/2 inches (50th percentile! He's not a dink any more!) long. His head is still 95th percentile. Yikes.

He also sits up beautifully and likes to drink water from a cup or bottle -- though rice cereal is the grossest thing ever. In the history of ever. We're about to give up and try him on green beans. He went from being huge, and having to sleep diagonally, in his bassinet, to an actual crib. In which he looks so tiny! It lets him roll around a lot, which disconcerted him dreadfully at first. But he's getting better with it. Developmentally he's meeting all his goals easily. He's just a love.

And now, the picspam!

This is his Exersaucer. He LOVES this thing.

Farmer's Market. The sun was a wee bit much for him.

This is how he sucks his thumb. Fingers splayed across his face. People have told us we should worry about him sucking his thumb, but he doesn't DO a bink. Besides, it's not really that he's sucking said thumb. It's just in his mouth. ;)

I just love this expression.

Did I mention that he loves his exersaucer?

LOVES it. And no, he's not in it for more than a half-hour a day. It's just that it leaves my hands free to go grab the camera.

This was when he was just learning to sit. Yeesh, that's close to a month ago! He's far less teetery now. He looks a bit drunk...

Bath time!

Action shot. He is ALL about the splashing. Though now he's going through a standing-up-in-the-sink phase.

I couldn't choose between this pic

and this one, as they're both so cute. CUTE!

This is Declan at the beach on our 15th anniversary (the weekend after June 13). He was a little cold, poor guy.

Even though he read a bit and hung out on the sand...

And he tried to be in a good mood...

That was his basic opinion of the beach. Still, he managed to charm everyone near him at both restaurants we went to.

Here's the funny thing. I look at Declan, and sometimes he looks so much like his Daddy and sometimes he's clearly my kid. It's funny.

This?

Me. Check the eyes and the mouth. Not the tongue, possibly.

Now this?

That's his papa.

adjrun @ 2007-06-21T20:41:00

2007-06-22T00:46:06Z

We have achieved tooth!

Tooth number two is imminent. My brilliant son is also sitting up -- well, STAYING seated when positioned so -- and yesterday he shifted an object from one hand to another.

Clearly he's a GEEEEEEEEENIUS. :)

I've decided that I have to get a new camera, as the current one does a preflash thingy even when the red-eye is off. It makes all his pictures look like he's thinking, "Hey! Whatcha do that for?!?!" I need more pictures of his smile.

In other news, it's Paintapalooza at the Old Homestead this weekend. Do I know how to have fun, or what?

Clearly the answer to that is, "Or what."

adjrun @ 2007-06-14T19:56:00

2007-06-15T00:20:57Z

Yesterday was Jer's and my anniversary. Our FIFTEENTH anniversary, to be precise. I'm pretty impressed by that. It seems like forever; and yet, from a different perspective, it's no time at all. Part of me is looking forward to the time when the part of my life where we've been together is longer than the part we haven't -- it's still a few years away, but needs to be celebrated.

In case you all had forgotten, I love my husband tremendously. Beyond the power of words to express.

We didn't celebrate the anniversary much, yesterday. Jer let me sleep in and took care of baby (I returned the favor this morning) and then last night we grabbed a quick dinner at Chevy's. Which Declan FREAKED OUT in the middle of. The poor lad is teething -- he's even got a white spot on his gum where the tooth is pushing to come through -- and though he can usually keep it together, that plus sleepy made him blow a gasket.

But this weekend? After a birthday dinner for a friend on Friday night, we're going to the coast on Saturday. We went to the coast for our honeymoon, and spent a summer there doing summer stock. So we're going to relive some of those memories: Jer's making a seafood lasagna, we're going to have a picnic on the beach, he's going to feed me mangoes (the first time I had a mango was on our honeymoon). It'd be really damn romantic were it not for the five-month-old baby. ;)

I'm reading ... okay, not TRASHY fantasy novels, but fantasy novels that really don't require much of one. David Eddings. Not bad, very readable, but very very derivative of Tolkein in plot and I can't think too hard about the characterization of females. It's not Robert Jordan bad, but... they're pretty much all in it to be love interests. Hmph.

And then there's the TV. I broke my string of summer reality to watch Band of Brothers in its entirety on HBO On Demand. And I think it's finally done it -- I now have a bit of a crush on Damian Lewis. He's just so GOOD in BoB!!! So decent and stalwart and upstanding. It finally pushed past the ginger thing for me (I'm usually not a fan of the redheads, as I am shallow, so he joins... well, Toby Stephens in the meagerly peopled Adj's Redhead Crushboys). So the fact that he's got a series this fall, Life, has me rather excited. It looks like Robin Weigert is in it too -- and though I doubt she'll get to scream at people to GET FUCKED!, I'm still glad to see her in stuff. I also, being the freaky completist that I am, want to watch more Damian Lewis stuff -- maybe catch the I'm-sure-it's-dreadful Dreamcatchers on some random movie channel, and rewatch The Forsyte Saga, though his character is reprehensible in it. Okay, not reprehensible, just a real jerk.

What I'd really love to see is the ShakespeaRetold he did of Much Ado About Nothing. BBCAmerica aired it ONCE. ONCE!! What's up with that?!?!?!

For those of you who've not caught BoB, and/or if you're missing other HBO shows like that mob thing (heh) or Deadwood *sob* or... whatever, it's so worth a watch. It's just brilliant. Quick spots of lots of British actors, too: Jamie Bamber, James McAvoy...

Other than that (and watching the awesomely cheesy '90s Fox series Space: Above and Beyond on dvd, which Jer bought for me for Christmas and I love him for it), it's the Summer Reality Wallow. Top Chef looks awesome this year -- and there aren't any egregiously incompetent chefs this year. Okay, there may have been, but he didn't survive the first night. And now I have to use the phrase amuse bouche all the time. Apparently it's different from an appetizer in that you only get one? Heh.

Apparently all the incompetent chefs got on to Hell's Kitchen instead. I have a much lower tolerance for that one, because of all the yelling and fuckwittedness. But I watch, thinking "Thank Pete I'll never work in a restaurant!"

The last reality show blipping my radar is So You Think You Can Dance? I think I like it because 1) it doesn't MATTER that I'm finally watching it when the baby wakes up at 4:30 a.m. and I can barely think, it'll still make sense; 2) I'm not a good dancer and am much more of a layman at recognizing good dancing than, say, good singing -- so I can just go, "oooh, pretty!" and root for people in a desultory way; 3) it's dancing, and it's nifty.

No pictures this time. I HAVE them, mind you. They're just still on the camera. Feh.

LOVE YOU GUYS!!

adjrun @ 2007-04-27T16:43:00

2007-04-27T20:45:42Z

Let's just take the bitching over the letdown that was The Amber Spyglass as given.

I like the name Eamonn. A lot. Unless you say it with a Jamaican accent.

I started back at work on Wednesday. Which means I now have time to dink around on the internet. Wheeee!

I'm still not going to be able to get out to see 28 Weeks Later when it airs. Damn. IDRIS ELBA, people!

adjrun @ 2007-04-26T20:43:00

2007-04-27T00:43:59Z

Jer got the call a couple of hours ago.

We're officially homeowners.

I'm simultaneously elated and terrified.

Well. That Was Fun.

2006-12-28T16:41:23Z

You know how they like to give disclaimers? Here's my fave. "You know, pitocin isn't always effective; it may not work." Grr.

My uterus is apparently a fortress which pitocin cannot breach. Dangit. We had me hooked up from 9:45 a.m. to almost 5 p.m., eventually cranking that drip thingie as high as it would go, and... nuthin. No change. No dilation, nuthin. I had some minor contractions that didn't even cause any pain, and those tapered off. So I'm just as pregnant, and now have some lovely i.v. bruises as a memento of my stay (three tries to get an i.v. in -- YAY!).

The good news is that Declan remained healthy through the entire experience, his heartbeat strong and steady, his movement good. It's just that apparently my uterus doesn't want to let him go.

We're going to try again next week. If I don't go into labor before that.

... personally, I think I may be pregnant forever...

adjrun @ 2006-12-26T23:15:00

2006-12-27T07:18:18Z

We're supposed to check into the hospital a little less than 8 hours from now. We have to call first, as there's the possibility that we could get bumped if they're swamped. Needless to say, I don't think either of us are getting any sleep tonight.

So. Nervous.

Eeek!

ETA: We called, and we're good to go!!!

adjrun @ 2006-12-13T21:43:00

2006-12-13T21:43:56Z

I'm a little sad, because Peter Boyle passed away. dionneshea mentioned his amazing X-Files ep, "Clyde Bruckman's Final Repose," so I'd just like you to sing along with me.

If you're blue
And you don't know
Where to go to
Why don't you go where fashion sits?

PUDINNN ONNA WIZZZ!!!!

adjrun @ 2006-12-05T03:42:00

2006-12-05T03:42:21Z

So, my nephews, B and N (for short, heh) are going to be 7 the day after Christmas. B has already lost a front tooth or two, and N was lagging behind. But one of the fronts was loose. While in the bath, the boys figured out how to resolve this and to get the loose tooth out. This was a plan, mind you. Agreed upon by both parties.

B punched his brother in the face.

Mission accomplished. And apparently the blood swirling in the bathwater was "cool."

*headshake*

I'm a little worried about Declan being a boy, now.

The nephews are all very interested in the concept of the Not-Bris Bris we're planning to have after Declan is born. Lemme 'splain. We want to have a bris in all but the actual... medical procedure. Which will happen in a hospital like medical procedures should, thankyewverymuch. And though neither Jeremy nor I is Jewish, we really like the idea of an informal, Open-Housey-type event to which we can invite all our friends and relations so that they can meet our son. And if said Open-Housey event has brisket and kugel and knish and bagels and lox and maybe even some latkes? ALL THE BETTER, I say.

You are officially all invited, by the way.

The nephews will be attending. They were primarily interested because -- well, one would hope it's because they get to meet their cousin. Heh. But they were also very interested in the word "bris" and what that entailed. I'm letting their mom field that one. HEE.

Declan has more clothing than another eight children, thanks to a very generous baby shower two weeks ago. We still have the boring stuff to get (because really, who's going to buy a breast pump or a diaper genie when you can buy wee ickle boyclothes?), but knowing that we have NO clothes we need to purchase for about a year? Yeah. Kind of a relief.

Last weekend was Friends Thanksgiving (Jer made the stuffing, I made the pie), plus we got our Christmas tree and decorated it. We also started on the Christmas cookies, with the bourbon balls. Then doctor's appointment tomorrow, as I'm to the weekly checkup stage at 35 weeks. Hospital tour on Wednesday. And a breastfeeding/child care class all day Saturday. After that, I pretty much just have to pack a bag for the hospital, and we're playing the waiting game.

Those of you on my flist who have spawned: you cared about the books you packed in your maternity bag, right? Not that you'll necessarily have time to read them, but just in case? I'm thinking comfort books, like Neverwhere and Dianna Wynne Jones. Maybe some crossword puzzles.

Hey! Those of you who are pet-lovers! Or even just the softies -- our local no-kill shelter has a holiday fundraiser. Cat Adoption Team It's a great cause and a great shelter; they even take in cats that other shelters would euthanize due to health issues or overcrowding. They're the place our next cat will come from, pretty much guaranteed. And for the holidays they have a calendar on sale. Printing costs were donated, so all of your $10 donation for the calendar goes to the shelter.

I'd mentioned to Jer that I wanted to get one -- I keep thinking that when I have a spare moment I'll volunteer at the Cat Adoption Team, and I'd love to foster kittens were it not for the Jer-pointed-out fact that we'd end up with 20 cats if we did that. Anyway, he took Veronique to the vet today for a checkup on her hypertension (this is the old, blind kitty that we dote on like crazy) and though we dropped WAY too much money at the damn vet, he also picked up one of the calendars. Yay! Cute, cute kittens, yo. And naturally they're all cats from the shelter.

adjrun @ 2006-11-29T17:59:00

2006-11-29T17:59:54Z

Holy crap!

According to tvguide.com, HBO is going to adapt Preacher for a series. That will be so frickin' awesome!!! Garth Ennis's initial run on that bad boy was just mindblowing: bleak and violent and funny and really, really blasphemous (the show is about a guy with a troubled past who kinda... absorbs the offspring of an angel and a demon, and who gets into much trouble because of it).

I'm going to be a leetle sad, because Sean Bean is now waaaaaay too old to cast as Cassidy, the main character's best friend who is also an Irish vampire and a bit of a fucker. Don't think Angel at all, think an Irish version of Trainspotting where the addiction is blood.

I suppose it'll depend how close to the source material it hews, but the comic itself had Tarentino levels of gore and violence -- and even though the plot got more than a little farfetched after a while (to the point of stupid) and though there are a lot of other comics which I think have maintained a level of quality and coherence a lot better through their run and there are creators of comics I hold in higher esteem than Ennis NOW... for a while there, this book was the shit. And in HBO's hands, it could continue to be the shit.

On somewhat related news, I have no desire to watch Showtime's Dexter, but I have a burgeoning desire to read the books.

Oh! And the other thing that tvguide is reporting is that Christopher Gorham will officially be a recurring character on Ugly Betty. You go, Super Accountant! (really, is there anyone who plays a cuter geek boy than Gorham? eee1313 would say it's UNPOSSIBLE.)

I owe you all a life update. That'll happen soon. Promise!

adjrun @ 2006-11-15T04:00:00

2006-11-15T04:00:41Z

Holy coyote, how has it been a month since I last posted?

Okay, quickly. I'm not dead. :) I do feel a bit like Violet Beauregarde, post-gum. I should count my blessings, though, as I haven't turned Violet. Merely spherical. I'm at 32-1/2 weeks, which some books consider to be seven months and others to be eight. I just know that I'm very, very round and very, very ungainly.

Last weekend Jer and I lolled about; did some housecleaning in prep for THIS weekend; got taken out to brunch by our friends Dan and Rachel (Dan got a promotion at work, and Jer pushed really hard for that to happen as he was Dan's boss) at this place called Salty's. Salty's is right on the Columbia River, and it's one of those places where the brunch is guaranteed to make you eat yourself into food coma. They do the usual breakfasty stuff, plus meats (er, prime rib, I think? It's not like I went there) and an omelet/crepe bar and a chocolate fountain AND a seafood spread AND a dessert counter. We really weren't hungry for the rest of the day. Burp. Oh. And after that, I went to the spa -- I can reach my toenails, but I really don't want to expend the effort. I was also desperately in need of a haircut, as the mane was getting a bit ratty. I told her to lop off a good four inches. She may have lopped off six. Eh. It's still long enough to fit into a pony tail, and it's down to my shoulders. It may be that instinctively I'm copycatting sunbrae -- that's about how long my hair is now.

The weekend prior to that we did the marathon childbirth classes. Which I really appreciated. There was a ton of crap that I didn't know. The videos are pretty ... graphic, however. My main lessons? 1) Pack more shit to the hospital than one would ever think possible, as 2) childbirth is seriously messy. I do think the weekend juggernaut may be the way to do this, though; we really didn't spend much time on breathing techniques or lying on the floor. Which coulda felt a little woo-woo. Instead they focused on the idea that all that stuff is supposed to help you short-circuit the brain's focus on PAINPAINPAIN.

The funniest bit of class? I ran out of TUMS at work earlier that day (for those of you who have not spawned? OMG the heartburn. TUMS are your bestest friend ever) and sat there for an hour during lecturey stuff, thinking owowow. Finally, I asked Jer if he had some, and he just happened to. As did easily ten of the women around me. ;) It's like we're all TUMS pushers, or something.

Jer and I thought we'd probably be some of the older people in the class. We weren't, really -- maybe it's just that childbirth classes appeal to the more mature prospective parent, and when one is younger one doesn't want to spend the moolah on them, I dunno. But there were a relative dearth of teens/young-20s types there, and the average age was probably about early-mid-30's. There was even a couple there where the guy was easily 55-60 and the wife couldn't have been much younger than 45. And they were having twins. Ay caramba.

What else? TV! I think that last ep was my fave of Heroes, for a bunch of reasons. One is that plot stuff got moved way the heck forward, and people are getting past the emo-what-is-happening-to-me crap (there's a reason everyone loves Hiro!). I like that Claire's daddy isn't necessarily evil, though his methods can be underhanded; there needs to be a shady government-type conspiracy happening here. It just makes Daddy a potential antagonist, not the villain -- and I love that particular character type in fiction. I think I also appreciated that we saw more female characters with superpowers. The ratio prior to this was weighted seriously testosteronewards. And if you DID have superpowers, apparently you also had to be hot and blonde. ;) Not that either of our two potential girlpowers were fug in the slightest, but still.

Now. Hiro has to save the waitress. Yes, saving the cheerleader is important. But SAVE THE WAITRESS!! She was really adorable, particularly with her new boyfriend. And that power would be wicked awesome.

Other shows I'm emotionally invested in? The Nine, Ugly Betty, Supernatural... I'm going to miss Lost (NATHAN!! You were awesome!!) and will only tune in to Day Break because Adam Baldwin is in it. I'm happy both Friday Night Lights and Studio 60 got full-season pickups, and I've decided to start shipping Danny and Jordan. I'm about to stop caring about Prison Break, as it's getting predictable in its farfetchedness (right now, the pretty is slightly outweighing my disbelief, which is helping in the suspension thereof); and Battlestar Galactica is just pissing me off. I mean, really -- it's not just that plot is overwhelming character, IDEAS are overwhelming plot are overwhelming character. The arguments and "ethical dilemmas" are presented with Ron Moore's thumb so clearly weighting one side, and it's not even necessarily the side I agree with -- and the other side of the argument gets only the lamest advocacy possible. I mean, we're talking four-year-olds could come up with better fodder for debate. It's not deep thought. It's the guy in college who spent half a term in London and came back thinking he could use his "new British accent" to convince chicks that he was deep and intellectual and sexy -- when he was just a pudgy, obvious white boy who needed a haircut.

On the bright side? Captain Jack Harkness is even better looking on Torchwood than he was in Doctor Who. (My opinion on Tennant's Doctor? He's funny and fun and sweet, but he doesn't have the pain and tragedy that Eccleston brought to Nine. So I enjoy it, but I really don't care as deeply as I did for my first Doctor. Sigh.)

adjrun @ 2006-10-20T06:20:00

2006-10-20T06:23:06Z

So I'm watching Supernatural, we're in the process of doing some baking, and Jer (who still thinks I know more about baking than he does) comes out with the following:

"Can I tear you away from the homoerotic Hardy Boys to check out the pie?"

HEEE.

adjrun @ 2006-10-18T17:45:00

2006-10-18T21:49:40Z

I don't have gestational diabetes!!!

YAY!

I went in for the three-hour test yesterday: blood test, superglucose drinky (this one like Orange Crush + Karo syrup), wait an hour, blood test, wait an hour, blood test, wait an hour, blood test, GO PIG OUT AT BAJA FRESH because that's the first food I was allowed that day.

And every single test, my levels were below the level they were supposed to be.

Mmm, carbs. I love you, carby-warby woogums pie. I'm so glad you won't be torn from my arms these last few months.