Okay seriously I'm trying to start blathering about my wee, little life again. And to get me started, I've been attempting to read little bits of LJ here and there for the last week. It is truly a tough task to come out though when one has been web silent for this long!

Daunting, even.

And er, I just read now that some of you are saying this place might disappear? Uh oh. Maybe I am meant to stay silenced. Nonetheless, until things get sorted out any recommends on where/how to blog elsewhere?

I joined Facebook during the holidays too. See, I told you. I'm *trying*. My first name is Jude. Well some of you knew that. My last name is...well, let me know if you want to add me. I already keep in touch with a few of you on there. Late.

I am a schmuck, I know it. Thank you to every one of you who emailed or nudged me over the past month. In brief, there has been an amount of emotional upheaval tossed into my lap that made me a bit despondent at times and rather than being able to put words to these things I pulled away - 'cause I fear if my too self-aggrandizing bits come out in the open they will return and bite me in the ass at some later date in time.

I am alive, really I am. And yes, I am still actively incubating (thank all goodness that exists) and my mind/body is fighting to do what it can to stay that way (though it did end up having emergency surgery weeks ago). I feel as though I am a young geriatric with all this invasive treatment, but hell it is without a doubt worth it to me. A truer friend's post tomorrow I promise, with pics even. I will attempt to answer some questions as well, as to what has been going on.

And to answer the large, looming question at hand I have a GIRL growing in thee belly. I am totally stoked. Thanks to those who have been thinking of me, I am trying hard to crawl out of my cave and return the favor.

In 6 hours, we will be learning whether K will have a little brother or sister (willing the new little to cooperate and open ze legs). And perhaps this little tidbit explains why I have yet to properly fall asleep. Okay there is more, but truly I just cannot manage to sort my thoughts at this hour.

Thanks Lesa, for showing me this mess. My favorite criticism by far is this: "...when he stops feeding her cocaine she's gonna realize she's fucking an old nerd that looks like an old Jewish woman." What a hack. He left Dita for this? All right, I have been quiet and I bring this shit to your f'list? I'll behave now. Baaaa (that's for you Trystan).

I am bad about posting photos of my home so this was a pic from two years ago (hence our now defunct url in the corner) of a bit of the dining room. Nothing has really changed except we now have large shutters on all windows rather than the ghetto paper shades.

The photo is a bit dark as it was taken at night but the paint is a voluptuous red. The room is a cathedral ceiling and there are four columns going into the room which aren't pictured here and an enormous gothic chandelier (about 5 feet I'm guessing?) that was a great DIY project of ours. We also put up large crown molding but that doesn't really matter, it's a tall room. The table seats 10 and is very wide and there is an old baby grand tucked away in the corner. The only remaining thing is a curio of mementos from our wedding tucked in one corner.

P and I are always slowly working on our home. If you've known me for any amount of time, you will be familiar with some of the major projects we have undertaken over the last few years. I like not only things to be slightly eccentric but we're also big into doing things ourselves. Lately I have gotten the bug to find a dining hutch to help complete the room - it's vacuous even with the few items mentioned above. The walls are bare with exception to a large mirror by the piano and it is high time that we add something to the room.

Although the table was expensive I decided to pair it up with chairs from Cost Plus. What can I say, I like mixing things up and dislike sets. Plus, I cannot swallow buying high end chairs that only get used a handful of times throughout the year or by friends who have had too much wine. On to the debate I am having. I want to add a hutch in there, but I want to revive someone's old pieces instead of buying new. I admit it, I want one last DIY project before I get too pregnant and can't participate.

I'm looking at two pieces I have recently located locally. I would most likely be redoing them to match the dining table which is a deep black. I'd love to do another color, but I think it would be really hard to pull off with the red walls and style of the room.

Which style do you suggest taking on for my dining room? Why? Any other suggestions? Although it is a formal room, it is cool, not stuffy. I kind of prefer the open shelving one because it would showcase things better, but is it too country even with a P&J makeover?

I swear I am trying to post more! It seems every day is so packed and busy. I made a surprise DIY Valentine dinner for P. I was a goober because I was not feeling good and did not prepare until nearly the last minute. Therefore plans for appetizers and salad went out the door. My heart-shaped, homemade theme consisted of: chicken pot pie, chocolate cake, valentine and a bottle of cabernet sauvignon.

( I'm bringing sappy back.Collapse )

I have been dying to post but time to do so has been sparse! I am making a point of doing so right now simply because I have a few moments. This will be a generic post but wow, had to do it because I know a few of you will love it. I am heading out of town in a bit and won't have access until I return over the weekend - I promise something more personal will be written then. Anyways, on with the neat news bit!

Archaeologists in Italy have unearthed two skeletons thought to be 5,000 to 6,000 years old, locked in an embrace (BBC News 02/08/07).

The pair from the Neolithic period were discovered outside Mantua, about 40km (25 miles) south of Verona. The pair, almost certainly a man and a woman, are thought to have died young as their teeth were mostly intact, said chief archaeologist Elena Menotti. The burial site was discovered on Monday during construction work for a factory building.

"It's an extraordinary case," said Ms Menotti. "There has not been a double burial found in the Neolithic period, much less two people hugging - and they really are hugging," she told Reuters news agency. Flint tools, including arrowheads and a knife, were also found alongside the couple. Scientists will now study the skeletons and artefacts to work out how and when the two people died, Ms Menotti said.

"I must say that when we discovered it, we all became very excited," she said. "I've been doing this job for 25 years. I've done digs at Pompeii, all the famous sites, but I've never been so moved because this is the discovery of something special," she said.

So I admit it, I have been hiding out - rump in the air and head in the sand. Apparently seeing the new year in put me in a bit of a slump. Most people are grateful for the holidays to be over and there was me, standing naked in front of the the mirror before and after my daily showering rituals, staring at my not-so-flat-belly realizing there was no longer a little person inside. Yeah, so much for being over it. It is weird how it affects me. I function absolutely fine but when I have a small, quiet moment to myself I sigh and feel my lashes fall into darkness.

In other words, depression.

My salvation lies in a set of steel blue eyes that greet me each day. I find myself grabbing a precocious little boy and maniacally doling out random kisses and monster snarfs until his squeals reach an adequate level of pandemonium, stop, take a big inhale, and start all over again. Zoloft ain't got nothing on this. Yep. I'm back :).

The new year I look forward to with great anticipation. It has been in so many respects, one of trials and revelry, and this upcoming one I feel will continue to greet me with huge lessons. Yet I embrace the idea. For the bulk of my life I lived in fear for one reason or another, so it is with much pleasure that I can at last sit back now as a grown woman and take it all in and manage.

And really, that is all that I have ever wished for.

My love to you my friends, as the year states its goodbye. May it be a true celebration.

Sorry I've been missing, just needed to take some time away from online. P and I are headed off in a bit to enjoy a one-on-one weekend to celebrate a late anniversary. Cannot wait!

We're sending out holiday cards this week, if you want one and would like to send one back please drop me a line with your name and address and I will reply with ours. (This post will have all comments screened to keep your privacy intact.) Chat with you all soon!