.
I don't really like halloween. But I figure since I have a kid I have to do some of the stuff. I couldn't face a big pumpkin but they had these at the grocery store and I carved it up while Nina was taking a nap. It's nice and cheerful with a candle inside, and Nina thinks it's pretty cool too. 
Nina's outfit courtesy of Granki & Grandpa, Nina loves it.
On this story. Seriously, it's riveting. Alaskanmama tried to warn me, but I thought I was strong. I'm still blaming her, though.
The air quality here is much improved, though I took Larry to the airport this morning and the further south we went the hazier it got. It's not too smoky outside and inside it's not at all. Ironically, I am having no allergies at all. What's up with that (not that I'm complaining, it's just that ever since we moved here I have been a slave to them)?
Click here for an amazing flickr photo set established by our local public radio affiliate (also responsible for the amazing google map).
Considering all the smoke that is blowing over my house, the air is pretty clear, though the dog bowl we left outside is pretty ashy.
So, we came home to our county burning, thousands and thousands of acres of it. The air was very thick and smoky when we first got over the border from Tijuana but not as thick as we thought it would be when we got home. So we jumped in the car and drove home on very clear highways. The air still smells really smoky, but the sun is shining and we can see it. We still feel ok staying put for now, the evacuation area is within 5 miles of our home. We are keeping the dogs inside for and have packed so that we can get out within about 15 minutes. I will try to keep you posted if there are developments, but for now we just need good thoughts for all of us in the San Diego area.
View Larger Map
My family eats a mostly Nourishing Traditions diet, which contains a lot of "no-no" stuff according to a lot of the recent literature. But now, it seems more mainstream thinkers are coming around; check out this article from Men's Health magazine. Butter, anyone?
So, I don't usually do these things, but Leng mentioned me specifically in her entry, so here goes:
1. Does someone love you?
I fervently believe so. Is that not why we procreate?
2. What color is your couch?
Eggplant velvet. Yep, I had to special order it.
3. Has anyone ever mistaken you for someone famous?
I really doubt it.
4. Are you named after a grandparent?
No, but Nina is sort of named after my great grandma. Her name was Lena but all of her other grand and great grandkids called her Nina.
5. Say you were given a drug test right now. Would you pass or fail?
Pass.
6. Are you taller than 5'6"?
Not even on my biggest, tallest hair day.
7. When was the last time you were disappointed?
I can't recall right now, isn't that nice? Though Larry did use the hair gel I had put in a body wash container to wash Nina's hair this morning. But that's just funny, not disappointing.
8. Ever seen a dead body?
I saw a friend bleed out and die in front of me from a freak wound to the jugular. And my grandpa at his funeral.
9. Who was the last person to send you a text message?
Definitely my sister, I don't have a text package so she's the only one who does it. But recently I got a picture message of wannabehippie and my sister at the same bar; wannabe was visiting the bay area and happened to be in the same place at the same time. Cool, huh?
10. What did you do yesterday?
I spent 11 hours on and off of a boat. Swimming off of the ladder of a boat in a warm ocean is one of my favorite things.
11. What’s the first thing you would do with five million dollars?
Pay off all debt.
12. What nationalit(ies) are you?
Almost all eastern european jew.
13. Any upcoming concerts you want to attend?
I would love to see Joan Osborne, Alison Krauss, Solas, Taj Mahal, and Dar Williams again. And Del McCoury once. I have no idea if any of the above are even touring, that's how out of the loop I am.
14. Who’s the last person that you felt was stalking you?
High school boyfriend while I was in college.
15. What’s your zodiac sign?
Sagittarius.
16. Where do you spend most of your money?
Mortgage. Did you notice the city we live in? (I just left Leng's answer, we live in the same city.)
17. On what do you spend most of your energy?
Maintaining sanity.
18. Is there a secret you've never told any of your friends?
Probably one or two that I've been asked not to tell, but I'm not telling you.
19. What are you doing in 2008?
I would like to go to my sister's wedding. Not that she's getting married, just putting it out there.
20. What’s your favorite Disney movie?
No idea. Seriously.
We arrived in La Paz, Mexico, on Thursday afternoon. Wannabe Hippie has friends who have a wonderful bed and breakfast, so Veganmomma's brood and another family joined us and took advantage of the special friends rate we were able to get. After we got settled in we hung around poolside and went to the grocery store. It was extremely relaxing. Yesterday we hiked around in a (mostly) dry riverbed and had another relaxing afternoon poolside (stopping on the way home to get some delicious tamales). This morning I got up at 6 am, early enough to get some breakfast, take a shower, and get some food ready for an outing on a 40 ft sailboat. It was divine. A few of us motored the boat to a beach and picked up the rest of the gang (17 total) and headed to an island where we took advantage of a private beach with crystal clear water, some kayaks, and snorkeling gear. I was on the water for 11 hours (as much as possible actually in the water) and was as happy as can be about it.
I will post more details later when I'm not so tired, as well as pictures when I can load them onto the computer (I forgot to bring the card reader). Suffice it to say that this is the best vacation I have had in a long time, perhaps ever). Check out what Wannabe Hippie has to say about it, even with no sleep, she is brilliant.
Here's a great blog post about why my suspicions that non-organic strawberries are a big no-no. And why I rarely eat or let Nina eat them.
Which doesn't happen very often here, so Nina decided to go and play in the rain. It's good to get some use our of the wellies we bought in England, though I think today is the last day we'll get out of that awesome slicker, it's getting to be too small.
We went to a costume birthday party today; some friends lent us this elephant outfit.
My grandpa died a little over a year ago and now the only grandparent I have is my grandma, who is the one and only grandma I have ever known. She is a really great grandma and I love her to bits. She's not my biological grandmother; my grandfather married her when I was about 5 years old, my biological grandmother died about 5 years before I was born. This shouldn't be important, it isn't to me. She's simply my grandma, though she and my mother have been estranged since my grandpa died. I call grandma every day, even though there are times we don't have much to say; sometimes a simple "I love you" and "I just wanted to let you know I'm thinking about you" is enough. She has told me that I am the only one of her 6+ grandchildren who does this and that it really means a lot to her.
Last week grandma told me that she had to go into the hospital and have her pacemaker replaced, something she said was very simple and routine. Even as she was telling me this she was expressing that she was worried about it and calling lawyers to make sure her affairs are in order. So I was a little concerned about it but willing to believe her when she said it would be fine.
I have called and left her messages every day and have been getting more and more worried because I haven't heard back from her. Today I was at my mom's house and she told me that she had heard from the probate lawyer that my grandma has remained in the hospital after having had a stroke that has left her unable to speak (we hope temporarily).
None of my grandma's three children had the courtesy to call me and let me know. I had to find out from the hospital switchboard (I called the hospital where my grandfather died, I assumed that's where she would be) that grandma was in the ICU. There are no phones in the rooms, so I had them transfer me to the nurse's station so that I could ask the nurse to tell my grandma I love her (through sobs). She assured me that grandma will be alright, but really, she has no right to say that, there is a real possibility that she will not be ok. After all, my grandfather died in that very hospital from complications of pneumonia that he picked up there.
My sister called all three of my grandmother's children to see if she could find out what is going on and ask why we weren't called. One hasn't called back, another wanted to know how she got his number (my mom gave it to her but I think I would tell him she got it off of the internet if I was her), and the last only answered when my sister called from work because she didn't recognize the number. My sister was told that if there was something she needed to know, she would be told. I get that they don't like my mom, but I don't understand what (other than love their mother) my sister and I have done to deserve such callous treatment. I have a sneaking suspicion that once my grandpa was gone they thought they were rid of us. It's just so hurtful, and it would make my grandpa (who always treated every one of them as if they were his blood kin) so sad. It makes me sad.
especially when it comes to bringing your child into the world.
Click here for a news story on doctors using cytotec (off label, of course) to induce labor.
In fact, just go ahead and have that baby at home, ok?
Here's why (NSFW):
I went to see The Business of Being Born (produced by and featuring Ricki Lake) at Ama Mama on Friday. Wow, it was amazing. I am a birth junkie, and seeing a movie that was packed with fantastic homebirths was a special bonus for me. The movie will not be playing at any other venue in San Diego, even after it is released to movie theaters, so get your behind to Encinitas to see it this week! It will be on Netflix when it comes to video, and I will probably buy a copy of my own, it was that wonderful.
Larry's grandpa Hy gave Nina a new bathrobe* it's so soft and cushy, thanks! And lots of room to grow.
*It's from Under the Nile, all organic cotton luxury. I want one now!
