Welcoming the wee one!

This is Mack posting on behalf of Leith. Our little Tamsine was born on Sunday morning at 4:32. She weighed 7 pounds one ounce and was 19 and 1/2 inches long. Both Leith and Taz are healthy and will be coming home tomorrow. I came home to feed the cat and wanted to post some photos for Leith's friends. Once she's home she'll organize the post and add captions and stuff.

Latest Preggie Pic

Update

I know I haven't written in what feels like forever, but I've had very good reasons not to. Reasons like, "I've just been way too tired to sit down and think of something to write," and "I don't really fit in front of the computer anymore," and "there really hasn't been anything that exciting to write about," and "I've been too busy nesting."

Its really true about that last one. I've had this uncontrollable urge to put my house in order before Taz arrives. So Mack and I spent countless hours at Home Depot and Ikea getting closet organizers and cupboards etc. Then I sat back and made Mack assemble and mount the stuff we got. I've been thrilled with the results, but still have a bit of work ahead of me, because now I have to organize those assembled cupboards and closets.

I was also finishing up with work and trying to get things done there. My last day was supposed to be Friday, but there was just too much I wasn't able to do, and so now I have to go back in for a couple of days. I don't mind really, I was very sad to leave.

And thats about it. I'll post pictures of my nesting, I just need to take the pictures. promise.

Fantastic Dream

I used to have this recurring nightmare when I was pretty young. It was rather traumatic, and as a result I just stopped remembering my dreams. I have only remembered a handful over the last 20 odd years. Its quite sad really. When I got pregnant everybody told me I would have these fantastic, super-crazy, pregnancy dreams. I just smiled and nodded.

Well, the other night I actually remembered a dream, and it was fabulous. In my dream I was told that I had an unlimited budget to build the house of my dreams. to me, that in itself is pretty cool, but my imagination took it one step further - its true - in my dream, I built my dream house inside of a BIODOME. I know isn't that spectacular? I had the perfect house, with the perfect weather, and the perfect pool, and the perfect garden, and orchard and vineyard and veggie garden, I even had a couple of cows, goats and chickens. I was going for the whole self sustaining thing apparently. AND, I had all this perfection around me ALL THE TIME! I was SO disappointed when I woke up and it wasn't reality.

You see I live in Utah, where the license plate reads "Greatest Snow on Earth". And, it is - if you don't have to go outside - EVER! (except to go skiing of course). This last winter was the worst, and driving on the frozen roads were treacherous. Everybody had horrible cases of cabin fever. You feel like you want to go crazy. Now if you lived in a biodome that wouldn't be an issue, and you would only have to venture out of the biodome when you really had to, and, you could pick the days you left. Wouldn't that be fantastic?

My point being - I'm stuck on the idea of having my own biodome. (reality isn't an option)

Does it Suit Me?

No the baby is not mine, that is my two week old niece Maeve. I babysat her on mothers day so that Allyson could take Ethan to church.

So I got the chance to test out my mad mothering skills for 3 hours while they were gone. This is what we did. Napped together. Ate a little. Belched a little. Napped some more. Went to the loo. Changed a diaper (hers not mine), and then napped some more.

It went great. If those 3 hours are anything to go by, then I'm going to be a fabulous mother. Okay, so don't start worrying about me. I do live in the real world and know it won't be like that all the time, but thats when I get to hand her over to Mack. Yay!

Checkup

I had another checkup today, and was given a very enthusiastic thumbs up with everything. The Tazlings heart rate was really strong and she behaved herself this time and didn't kick anything. My blood pressure is great and apparently there is nothing abnormal in my pee - thank goodness!

I asked the doctor if there was anything I could do besides putting my feet up to help with the swelling in my feet. He went into this long explanation about water retention and how putting my feet up isn't going to reduce the amount of water I'm retaining. He said that whatever I'm doing its just going to drain to the lowest point of my body, so if I lie with my feet up, it just means the water will drain into my butt. To which I replied, "Yes, but my butt is used to being that size, my feet aren't!"

Tagged - I'm it.

My good friend Jen Salisbury tagged me. Its a good thing she's so high on my most loveable peoples list, or I'd be grumpy at her. Here goes:-

1. What were you doing 10 years ago?

Hmmm let me think...10 years ago I was living in London with Gillian and Isandi in a really dodgy hole in the wall about a block away from Portobello Road. We worked nights looking after crazy old grannies,and slept and pretty much acted like zombies during the days, but oh what good times were had.

2. 5 Things on my to do list today.

- Lie on the couch like a beached whale
- Dream about getting my waist line back
- Take the cat for a walk/waddle (she walks, I waddle)
- Try to reduce my sugar intake so that my baby doesn't go into a sugar coma
- Wish my husband were home

3. Snacks I enjoy.

- Ice cream
- Chocolate Nesquick
- Banana Nesquick (if I could get some in this country)
- Fruit (any kind goes,but I just ate a small, sweet, watermelon and it was so yummy!)
- Werthers Original sweeties
- cake
- and, more fruit

4. What would I do if suddenly I were a billionaire?

First, I would faint, and then I would spend, and then I would definitely give to those who might need it more than I would, and then I would spend some more, and then I would start a scholarship program for kids who can't afford an education, and then I'd by some shoes, and then I'd take a nap from all the spending.

5. List 3 bad habits

- Being self righteous
- picking my nose while driving
- Did I mention I'm really stubborn

6. List 5 places you've lived

- Cape Town, South Africa
- Sidmouth, England
- Tavistock, England
- London, England
- Rexburg, Idaho, USA
- Provo, Utah, USA
- Saratoga Springs, Utah, USA

7. List 5 jobs you've had

- Bookkeeper for an accounting firm
- Dishwasher at a restaurant
- Waitress
- Bar maid
- Granny sitter
- Producer for a Stock photography company
- PA on a movie set
- Production Co-ordinator
Wait thats more than five

8. List 5 things people may not know about you

- I'm blind in my right eye, so have absolutely no depth perception - so don't throw things at me, I'll scream and duck.
- I once sailed (with a skipper) in the Western Province Finals Hobie Cat regatta and placed 10th.
- I have an associates degree in broadcast journalism.
- I would love to write and illustrate children's fiction.
- I have long conversations with my cat, and don't think I'm crazy for doing so.

And that is it. I hope you enjoy this little tidbit of info about me.

Baby Ticker

I am down to my last few weeks of pregnancy, so decided to add a baby ticker (on the left) for everybody to anticipate and count down the days with me. Woohoo!

Pork Sausage Toes, Cankles and Dents

I must write a disclaimer at the beginning of this post. If you are in anyway squimish - look away now!

This is what my feet have evolved into over the last couple of days. I still can't believe that they actually belong to me. I have a hard time recognising them as feet at all. And, I must admit that I lament the loss of what used to be my ankles. I will never take them for granted again.



I was showing the girls at work how deep I can stick my finger into my poor swollen ankle, when one of the guys walked in, took one look at my foot and proclaimed, "whoa, you're dented!"

And its true, just take a look at this:



(Jeremy this post is for you - now stop laughing. I know I have granny feet right now, but the doctor promises me they will go back to normal eventually, one day.)

Ready to Pop

Have a look at this belly button. We're taking bets on when its going to blow.

And, please excuse the hairyness of the belly, my doctor says its hormones and will go back to its normal hairless state after the baby arrives (It had better or there will be some serious laser hair removal going on).



So this is the belly at 32 weeks pregnant (and still growing).

Making Pretty

On Saturday, Mack and I decided that we needed to make our little porch area a bit more attractive (up until Wednesday evening it had our old dried up Christmas tree and a bunch of tumble weeds as its only residents). We cleaned out the trash and bought some hanging baskets and annuals. Saturday morning was so pretty but a little chilly, so we layed a plastic liner down in the kitchen and proceeded to create flower master pieces for our porch.

I was so proud once they were hanging and my porch wasn't such an eyesore anymore. The very next day it turned cold again and the poor little plants took a beating, and tonight we'll have to bring them in cause its most probably going to snow again slightly. Can you believe it.

Anyway, here are a few pictures taken by Mack and myself of our once pretty little flowers.











I just realised that we didn't take any pictures of the baskets outside on the porch. Oh well, next time.

Yummy!

It was almost a year ago that my friend Nicole and I fell in love with traditional Greek Yogurt on the island of Oia. We have been searching for the luscious thickness of this traditional yogurt in the States ever since we got back.

Well I happened to be in Walmart (of all places) the other day and needed some plain yogurt, and to my surprise I found a little tub of OIKOS organic Greek yogurt. I didn't think it would be authentic, but decided to buy a small tub and try it anyway. It was delicious and exactly how I remembered the yogurt in Greece. The tub I bought had honey on the bottom. It was so good I scarfed it completely. So if you want to try some really good yogurt, find the OIKOS brand. And, you have to have it with honey, cause thats how they served it to us in Greece.

Thanks for your Prayers

Little Maeve is doing much better, and will most probably be able to go home on Wednesday. Thank you so much for all your prayers.

Prayers for Little Maeve

Please keep little Maeve in your prayers today. She was life flighted from the hospital in Logan Utah, to Salt Lake where she is being cared for at the Primary Children's Hospital. She has some sort of blockage somewhere and may have to have surgery. She isn't even two days old yet the poor little thing. Darren and Allyson are with her, but can't do much till she is better and the adoption papers can be signed. So again, please keep them in your prayers.

I'm an Aunty...again

Darren and Allyson's little girl was born yesterday at 3:45pm. They are naming her Maeve. You can go to their blog here, and see the precious little bundle.

I am so excited she is finally here, and that Maeve and Tamzin are going to be so close together - Allyson and I have already decided they are going to be BFF's. We'll see.

Artistic Endeavours

On Friday morning we're shooting a commercial for a slimming product. I have been asked to do art on the shoot, which is pretty cool. I get to take this location, and turn it into an outdoor bistro.



So for the next couple of days I have to go shopping. Rough life I live isn't it?

Movie Recommendation

Last night my friend Johanna came over to hang out. I made some delicious pork chops, and she brought a movie called "The Greatest Game Ever Played".

I was a bit skeptical about my enjoyment levels of this movie: 1st its a Disney Movie, 2nd its about golf, and 3rd its about golf.

But, to my pleasant surprise I really enjoyed it. It was interesting and entertaining and kept my attention on a bunch of different levels. I was completely intrigued by the directors choice of camera angle, the different devices that were used to compress time, and also the methods he used to move a story forward that had the potential of being pretty boring.

So, if you're looking for a heartwarming movie for the whole family, take a look at this one.

Delicious!!!

This is my breakfast this morning. Jealous?

Good, cause you should be.

Supermodel Mike

Last weekend one of my models canceled on me only minutes before our shoot was supposed to start. I called some agency talent that I had numbers for, but none of them got back to me. Right about this moment, I hit critical stress levels. But instead of having a melt down, I decided to call my brother-in-law Mike, he was snoring away in slumberland, so I spoke to Cecily (his wife) and asked her to get him to call me back. He did, and the conversation went as follows:

Me: Hi Mike, so ummm do you want to be a model for me?
Mike: Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha
Me: Its not hard, you just have to look like a construction worker.
Mike: Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha
Me: It pays.
Mike: What time would you like me there?

He turned out fabulous. Here are a few untouched moments in his fledgling supermodel career.

Sleep - Precious, Precious Sleep

The shoot is over. I was really relieved and a little sad at the same time. I got home at 11pm Monday night and just flopped into bed. I was so tired. If I ever decide to take on a project like this again in my third trimester of pregnancy, PLEASE remind me how exhausting it will be. I had to be back at work on Tuesday, and could barely pull myself out of bed. Last night I got home, flopped on the couch and promptly fell asleep, then I pulled myself to the bedroom, crawled into bed and slept some more. Phoebe is not very impressed with me right now cause I won't play with her, and with Mack in Seattle she is having to entertain herself. Too bad. I've decided that right now, sleep is the only thing I really want. I hope I recoup from these four days pretty quickly. My house is a complete pig stye and I need to find the energy and inclination to clean it before Mack comes home. I really am enjoying not caring though. It makes for a good break from my normal high strung, perfectionist nature.

Apparently, this is Me...

Apparently if I were a Jane Austen character I would be played by Emma Thompson. I am completely flattered. She is my all time favourite actress. Hmm I wonder what she would look like with red hair?

Take the Quiz here!

Family Get Together

Yes this is my family. Need I say more....




For my dear brother Jeremy's benefit: The girl in green is Cecily, Mack's sister. They guy she is force feeding is Mike her husband, and the on looker with the facial hair is Jacob, husband of Sara, another of Mack's sisters.

And Jeremy if you ever got your cute little behind over here you would know who these people are - so there!

It Starts!

I am up way too early this morning for the first of 4 shoot days. Pre-production was hectic to say the least and I am so relieved that all permits and paperwork are finally in order. Now its up to the photographer to make my hard work pay off.

We will be shooting solidly till monday evening and then its all over and the photographer goes back to New York and life here goes back to normal.

I can't wait.

7 Month Bump

My mom says its Karma, I say its not fair. Let me explain. The resident of this cute little bump is already a feisty one, and she hasn't even come out yet.

I went for my monthly check up on Monday and when the nurse put the heart rate monitor on my stomach, I heard a pleasant swishing sound, and then a huge *!BUMP!*. It happened again, but this time my stomach moved too. I realized that the Tazling was actually kicking the heart rate monitor. And, she wasn't just aiming in the vicinity, she was spot on. Everytime the nurse moved the monitor to a different spot, Taz would follow it and kick it. She was just not having anything invade her space. If this is what she's like on the inside - I must say I think our work is going to be cut out for us when she finally comes out.

Towed Away

Monday's commute to work was a nightmare. It had snowed over night and the snow had slightly melted and then frozen again into a solid sheet of ice over the whole road. I passed quite a few hairy accidents on my commute, and was trying to drive ever so carefully. I pulled off the freeway and was driving down a side street when the cars in front of me started to slide. Three cars pulled in various directions. I was driving our old car and only have 3rd party insurance on it. I knew that If I rearended one of those cars, my car would be toast. So instead, I cranked my wheel around and hoped to spin my car and slide gently to the side of the road. Instead, my back tire hit a bigger piece of ice, whipped me the other way, and the next thing I knew I had ramped the pavement and had damaged my one wheel. I tried driving the car, but it was impossible. So, I called Mack's dad Jon (who was close by) and he came to my rescue and helped me call a tow truck and waited with me till Mack arrived. So much adrenaline had pumped through me I was shaking uncontrolably.

I was really grateful that nothing major was wrong with the car (even though it still cost enough to make a considerable dent in my bank account), and even more grateful that I was fine, and that my bump was uninjured. Although Taz really enjoyed the adrenaline rush, cause she was kickboxing inside me the rest of the day and well into the night. I finally had to have a little chat with her when she decided my bladder was the perfect boxing bag. She's going to be feisty this one!

Snapped

Here are a few pictures I've taken with my new camera so far. Nothing too amazing, but hey I'm still learning. I especially love the one of Mack. He makes a much better model than the cat. He doesn't try to lick my lens if I get to close to him (at least he hasn't tried it yet.)

No Time to Post

I have been so busy lately. Its great. I was actually asked to produce a photo shoot for a New York based photographer (Shannon Fagan) who will be shooting in Utah in a week for Image Source. This is such a great opportunity for me, and I'm trying to do my best. Wish me luck!

He's Home - Finally

My darling husband is finally home. It really is nice having him back, especially since I sleep much better when he's around. I slept so soundly last night and woke up a completely different person this morning because of it.

He brought me a little gift while he was in Seattle that I thought was priceless and needed sharing.

Mack handed me a small paper bag while we were waiting at the luggage carousel. I looked inside and there was a little book, and all I saw printed on the cover of the book was the word "PORN", I was shocked and slightly appalled and then I took a closer look...



The inside was full of stuff to make you drool like this....


"As soon as I finish the laundry, I'll do the grocery shopping. And I'll take the kids with me so you can relax."


"Ooh, look, the NFL playoffs are today. I bet we'll have no trouble parking at the crafts fair."


"Why don't I get a minivan love, so you can drive something fun?"

And my personal favourite which I couldn't find a picture of:
"Have another piece of cake love, I hate it when you look so skinny."

I told Mack that he was going to have to memorize the whole book. Poor guy.

It Finally Arrived

Now I know that I was bragging about my fab new camera and yet there have been a serious lack of photos on my blog lately. As my friend Jenni pointed out to me yesterday, I am far too much of a perfectionist, and I'm not going to post crappy images on my blog for the world to see. I, would rather make a statement!

Jenni recommended the book that helped her on her way (check out her blog here) and yesterday it finally arrived. I am so excited I could pop. Guess what I'm going to be doing tonight? And then maybe I'll start to post a few images.

This is my new fabulous book.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!

I feel so thoroughly loved and completely spoiled. Thank you everyone for the birthday wishes and surprises. I'm still basking (and glowing slightly) in the love. My birthday started over a week ago with my husband surprising me with ultimate gift, then he called most of my friends that he had contact info for and organized a surprise get together Friday night at his parents place. My mother-in-law and two of Mack's sisters organized and catered(thanks Linda, Sara and Cecily it was fabulous,)and my family drove 1 1/2hrs to get there. Then on Saturday I hung out with my mom and we shopped and ran errands etc. It was just such a great day. Sunday night I spent with Mack's family, and then yesterday at work they bought me the hugest, most decadent chocolate cake (which I scarfed like a pig) and last night Mack's parents and his sister Sara took me out to dinner. I got so many phone calls I pretty much spent the day on the phone and everyone around me was jealous that I'm so loved. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!! I love you all too.

Lost in the Wilderness

I can post about this now, but yesterday I was a complete wreck. Our dear little kitty went awol. Its true. And, to make matters worse, it was my fault. I'll start at the beginning.

Mack and I have been trying to teach Phoebe how to be more independent by using the cat door we installed. She loves going outside, but will not push the door flap open with her head. So, Mack and I tape it open for her and she hops in and out and plays on the porch, but never ventures very far, and always comes back in after a few minutes just to check in and make sure we're still there.

Well yesterday morning she woke me up at 5:30. I decided this was the perfect moment for her to go exploring outside. I taped her little flap open, she dashed right out, and I went back to bed for two more hours of blissful sleep. When I woke, she was nowhere to be seen. I walked into the lounge and to my horror, the tape had come loose and the flap had shut, and the Phoebe had wandered off.

I picked up her favourite toy and went outside looking for her - nothing! Now please remember that I'm pregnant and have twelve tons of hormones coursing through my veins, and my husband is away on a business trip at the moment. I texted Mack that the cat was gone. He called and before he could even say "Hi Sweetie" I was a blubbering mess of tears and non-sensical mutterings which went a little something like this "Cat, lost, rain and snow today, (nose blowing noises), my fault, bad mother, poor Tamzin, (more nose blowing), Phoebe dead, killed the cat, puffy eyes, feral cats, joined a gang, leaving food out." Mack tried to calm me down, but the nicer he was to me the more guilty I felt that his cat was missing because of me, and the more I cried and sobbed and blubbered. I managed to get myself ready for work and kept pretty positive that she would return.

When I walked into an empty house last night and saw that Phoebe hadn't touched the bowl of food I left out for her, and then saw her cute little empty bed, I broke down in a bigger blubbering mess. Mack called right in the middle of this new breakdown (poor man)and had to listen to more mutterings. He was more concerned about me than his poor lost kitty. He kept telling me it was okay and that cats did this sort of thing and it wasn't my fault etc. We had put a tag on Phoebe with her name and Mack's phone number on it, and he was convinced that someone would call. I was more convinced that she had joined a gang of feral cats and the next time I saw her she would be sporting a cattoo and piercings.

At about 9:30 my phone rang, and Mack told me that someone in the next building had found the cat. I walked over and she was sitting outside the door of the apartment that would have been our apartment had she been in the right building. The guy told me she had been sitting there meowing the whole day. When she saw me she was so excited. It made me really happy. She hates being picked up, so I just talked to her as she followed me home. The moment I opened the front door she shot inside, and then walked into each room as if saying "yes, this is the place". She then snuggled on my lap and proceeded to clean herself for the next hour and a half. (I just love that she's as much of a clean freak as I am). Then we went to bed. She kept nuzzling me and wanting me to touch her and would put her paw on my cheek to make sure I was there. How precious.

I didn't realize how much I would miss her when she was gone. I'm really glad she's home. This morning I opened the flap to see if she wanted to go out. She gave me the dirtiest look and walked up the passage. I guess she's an indoor cat now.

Musings

As my body has expanded I have just become more and more uncomfortable in my own skin. I don't sleep well at night cause rolling over in bed is an all muscle participant sport now. My feet and ankles are starting to swell. My belly gets in the way when I'm sitting down. I can't bend over to pick things up. And, I find that waddling is easier than actual walking, because if I waddle I get my whole body momentum moving me forward (not to mention then my thighs don't rub together). I have pain in my knees and ankles. Walking too much makes me tired, and worst of all I don't have a thing in my wardrobe that actually makes me feel cute, cause everything I have to wear now is the size of a house.

My musing is thus - How can so many people in the world be morbidly obese when it is so stinking uncomfortable? I think pregnancy has cured me of ever getting bulky. I just don't like the feeling.

Tiny Little Bits

A friend of mine gave me a newborn nappy (diaper) yesterday. I couldn't believe how tiny it was. I just kept staring at it thinking, now how does any real persons bits fit into something that small. My baby is going to have little tiny bits that are going to fit into that miniature little nappy. And then on the other hand, I'm really grateful that her bits are going to be that small, cause right now she's inside me and has to come out. I'd rather have miniature bits come out than big honking ones.

Ode to Mack

This is one of the first photos I took with my camera. I just LOVE that smile.

Amidst the Snot and Tears

Sunday night was a very emotional night for me. I blame it on pregnancy hormones, and thats what I'm sticking with.

Actually I should backtrack. On Thursday, Mack found out that he had to go to Seattle for two weeks so he could train some guys that were getting deployed. This is on top of the whole bunch of other trips he has to take in the next two months. So, knowing that he wasn't going to be home for an extra two weeks made me really emotional. I had already planned the trip to Moab, and he couldn't come with because of work. So, we found out Thursday that he was going, I left for Moab Friday morning, and Sunday night was the only time we had to spend together before he left early Monday morning.

Okay now back to the story. So, I was already quite emotional on Sunday night knowing I was going to be home alone (and would have to take out the cat litter myself) for a fortnight, and to add insult to injury, this would be the second year in a row that Mack was going to miss my birthday because of military obligations. Anyway, we went to his parents house for a light dinner (Linda is an excellent cook), and while there, Mack put a wrapped box in front of me. I started to blubber even before I opened the gift. I hadn't expected him to have gotten me a birthday gift before he left. I was so touched. Anyway, I started to unwrap the present and what do you think I find inside - only a Canon Rebel XT digital SLR (Jeremy, thats a very, very cool camera). I have wanted a digital SLR for so long now, but couldn't justify spending the money when we already had a camera. Well, the waterworks opened, and I sobbed and sobbed and got mascara all over Mack's shirt.

ISN"T MACK THE BEST HUSBAND IN THE WORLD!

I pretty much didn't stop crying the rest of the night. Mack eventually had to take the camera away from me cause he was scared I was going to short it out with all the moisture coming from my face area.

So please expect a barage of photos as I learn to use my new camera.

This is a picture of it - isn't she beautiful.

Moab Weekend

It was the Moab half marathon this weekend and Allyson, her dad and brother were all running. It was also my mothers birthday and she had never been to Southern Utah before, so we decided that it would be a great way to celebrate her birthday. We traveled down on Friday morning, and hiked up to the delicate arch that afternoon. My mom did amazingly well on the hike even though she was so sick the weekend before with borderline pneumonia.


Moi with the delicate arch behind me (spot the bump)


The whole gang, Me, Mom, Darren and Ethan, Allyson, Marsha, Doug (Allyson's parents)


This ledge was so high and had such a shear drop. My mom got dizzy.

On Saturday, we walked around the town a little, and watched the runners come in. The that afternoon, we went back into Arches National Park and took another walk through the red rock. It was absolutely spectacular. The landscape there really is very unique. My mom kept on oohing and aahing, and even though I'd been there before, I was oohing right along with her. Just take a look at some of these landscapes taken with our little point and shoot.











A good time was had by all.

Growing Girth

I am now six months (24 weeks) along, and this is what the belly looks like. It just seems so much bigger from my vantage point. The Tazling is doing well with a strong heartbeat, and is growing by the day. Unfortunately her little belly of a home is not
the only thing growing on me.

Funny Ha Ha

I just thought this was funny. I've seen it a couple of times and it still makes me jump.

Its called Why Ice Fishing Sucks!

Proud Parent Moment

For the past two nights our dear kitty has slept through the night. I feel like this is a momentous step in the human cat relations in our household, as just a few days ago I was threatening to take her and dump her in the lake (with the mutant piranhas) if she woke me one more time. Then as luck would have it, Mack and I went out for the evening and forgot to leave food for her (we had just barely fed her). By the time we came home, she gave us a little kitty mouthful. We fed her and went to bed. And would you believe she awoke up with the alarm that morning. My fabulous powers of deduction began to work, and so the next night we followed the same feeding schedule and once again, she awoke with the alarm. Yay and praises be, we seem to have figured out the kitty dilehma.

Unfortunately I am so used to waking up at 3am now, that its become a habit. Maybe I should feed myself just before I go to bed?

Meet Stanley

Stan is Mack's new car. He fell in love with the little Toyota Yaris the first time he laid eyes on one about two years ago in South Africa. The day he found out that you could buy them in the States, was the day his internal yearnings started, and a week ago his internal yearnings became an obsession.

He took advantage of my decreased capacities last Saturday as I lay on the couch with bronchitis, and went for a "test drive", which turned into true love, which turned into Stanley becoming a permanent member of the family. I have never seen Mack so obsessed with a car before. I believe he would sleep in the garage with Stan if it weren't so stinking cold at the moment. He even bought mats for the garage, so we can wipe our feet clean before getting into Stan. See what I mean when I say obsession.

Anyway. This is how our little Yaris got its name. Jeremy and I believe that different cars have various personalities (at least some of them do), and that if they're cool enough to have a personality, then they should also have a name. Well when Mack took me for my first drive in our new little edition, I asked him what he wanted to name his car. The first thing that popped into both our minds, was the image of a smaller balding guy trying to overcompensate for having small man syndrome, the kind of small man that really would do a combover, but realizes just how ridiculous that is, so instead grows a handle bar mustache. Stanley.