More Updates from Buffalo....

The Hot Wings were a hit. We toured the Darwin Martin House (Frank Lloyd Wright), which is under restoration in Buffalo. It's a lovely place, and I can't wait to see it when it's completed. To support the Buffalo economy, and the restoration, we registered for the china Frank Lloyd Wright designed for the owners when we got married. The photo is of the Conservatory- one of the few areas that is finished.

As for the rest of our trip, don't know how I ever got so lucky. Tonight, we had a get together with my parents in-law, aunt & uncle-in law, SIL and her fam, and BIL and his fam. We were just getting together to see eachother- we're back East visiting and only MIL and FIL have seen me preggo. Well, after dinner, they surprised us with a mini-shower, since none of them will be able to make it out to my big shower.

We are now the proud owners of a beautiful bassinet that has a lot of family history (almost all of the 7 grandkids have been in it), and an enormous load of books and clothes and great gear that we need. Mom and Dad T also got us the most beautiful cake- check it out, and it was as good as it looked!!!!

They are too too good to me. I appreciate them so much. I'm so glad Baby Girl will have this house as a place she feels at home. To ensure that during the first year, we had some fun shopping with Mom T at Babies R Us, and got a pack and play for the In Law's house.

Pregnancy Update - Entering the 3rd Trimester

So.... there's not a lot to tell. I'm getting awfully big, and starting to have really uncomfortable days. Braxton Hicks contractions have also started. They're a bit frightening because sometimes they're stronger than other times. They don't hurt, but it definitely lets you know that that eventually they're going to get really big and REALLY strong. She's moving a lot more regularly, which is fun.

We're spending most of week 27 here in Buffalo with the in-laws and are having a great time. I'm not sure if I've had any calcium, or seen a fruit or a veggie since I've been here, but it is still a lot of fun. Hot Wings tonight. We'll see how she reacts to that. :)

Media Blackout....

I'm having to be very careful about where I trip around the internet these days. Even PerezHilton appears to have spoilers about Potter. That just sucks. Why would you want to ruin the fun for the I dunno..... 6 or 8 million people that are looking forward to this. I've been changing the station when something comes out on the news, being careful to scan web pages for any sign of spoilers before really reading anything, etc. Is it SATURDAY YET? Although, until the Amazon.com package shows up, Saturday will probably be the worst, since all the news outlets, etc. will know the ending by that point. My guess is at that point, I'll be going for full media blackout, and hoping for a pre-2:30 mail delivery.

Muggle Blog....

Finished Half Blood Prince last night. (See photo of Bump and I reading in the D.C. airport) I'm more confused this time than I was last time, but more than ever appreciate the richness of the universe J.K. Rowling has created. The things I found that are "new" this time are minute, but important to me, because I care about every detail. Here's what I've got:

p368 (paperback- I'm traveling)- Dumbledore and Harry are describing how Tom Riddle managed to kill his family and blame it on Morfin. He said that because it was in a wizarding house, they were unaware of who performed the curse. However, the Riddles were killed in the Riddle house, and they were Muggles. I'm sure they're just trying to point out that the Ministry jumped to conclusions... but it seems like an inconsistency to me.

I'm also still bothered by the fact that despite how many times we've heard that no one can apparate or disapparate within the Hogwarts grounds, House Elves can do it. A lot. Why them. We've heard they have different powers, but why that? Are we goingt o get an explanation.

Okay, the Horcruxes:
The Diary- Destroyed
The Locket (Slytherin) - Assumed Destroyed
Hufflepuff's Cup?
Ravenclaw's?
Gryffindor's?
Unknown?

Dumbledore things Nagini the snake might be one. I'm not sure if I buy that. And if Dumbledore is right, and he has the only remaining relic of Godric Gryffindor is safe at Hogwarts, we're missing 2. This is not a great start for our guy Harry.

My favorite thing about this book, however, is that the power Dumbledore describes Harry as having, is growing stronger, all around him. Throughout the book, you have examples of Harry and his friends becoming a stronger unit, which is more than "the cause." The same is true for Harry and Dumbledore's relationship. It's far more than student/teacher. It is familial, and very loving.

Love, despite all the odds is everywhere. Tonks is in love with Lupin, and willing to give up anything for him. Fleur does not care that Bill has been hurt in battle, and wants to marry him anyway, leading the Weasley's to love and respect her as it is. Ron and Hermione have finally found their way to eachother, taking a great friendship to another level. Last but certainly not least, Harry pulls the "Batman" move of breaking it off with his first love, Ginny, in order to protect her.

It is all this Love, and the power created by it that makes me believe that they can't kill off Harry in book 7. There will be many more sacrifices, but in the end, good will win.

I honestly don't know which way Snape is going to go. I see arguments for both sides, but as we have learned, Dumbledore is rarely wrong. I can't WAIT for Friday/Saturday.

And- in rebuttal of some of the points made by my Dude over at mysocaldlife.blogspot.com:
Yes, Alan Rickman plays him good. But Alan Rickman is the best. He could turn that on a dime for the next movie and amaze us all. He rocks. Especially in Dogma. If you haven't seen that movie, rent it NOW.

As for the "hatred etched in the harsh lines of his face." I agree that it makes him seem bad. However, we need to think about just what a difficult position he's been put in. He could be hating Draco and Narcissa for putting him in this situation through the Unbreakable Vow, and hating Dumbledore, for giving him, what I assume is the same orders he gave Harry. The greater good, and Snape's position within the society of the Death Eaters is more important than D's life, and therefore, he's on orders to follow through, even though it's the last thing he wants to do. You can love someone (Dumbledore) and hate them at the same time. If I'm right about that, though.... I don't understand how Snape could EVER come back and gain the trust of the Order again. Dumbledore is the ONLY one who knew why he trusted Snape. However.... we do know that Dumbledore has saved many of his memories in bottles for the Pensieve. Maybe that is one of them.That could work. I'm babbling. I need to stop and just stew in all of this for the next 4 days.

The best boss ever!

Today, Baby Girl decided that I should have some fierce heartburn. OW! After checking with four or five people in the office that did NOT have Tums, I called my boss in a panic. I knew he was offsite and would be passing a stripmall on his way back... and he saved me. He brought me a vanilla milkshake. ICE CREAM CURES ALL.

Naughty, Sicky Kitten

Romeo was not pleased that we went on vacation . . . he "cristened" the house in 8 places and worked himself into a nasty cold. He's on the mend now, with the help of meds and mommy MAKING him go in the litterbox twice a day, but actually got a bloody nose last night. I woke up to him having a particularly nasty sneezing fit, and in the morning, there were little bloody sneeze spatters on the sheet where he'd been sitting. Because of that, and his snugly lovey behavior the last couple of days. He's been forgiven.

To battle the "I'll pee where I want to when you're out of town" attitude problem, we're trying a product called Comfort Zone with Feliway. We bought both a spray and a diffuser that emit happy kitty pheramones into the air, and is supposed to chill them out. They both certainly SEEM chill, but we'll see. It's worth a try. It get's amazing reviews from every website/user I've found. We'll also be getting the carpets chemically cleaned. . . once we get back from a week and a half in Buffalo. Something tells me that my boy will act out no matter what while we're gone.

Mahalo, Hawaii!

We have once again returned from the Big Island. It was a shorter trip this time, but just as wonderful. The pictures show it better than i could ever explain, so I'll let them do most of the talking. Some Highlights, though:

• The coral "graffiti" Honu that we created last summer is still there, and virtually untouched around mile marker 79. We were so proud!
• Making time for real vacation (ex: sitting in a lounge chair by the pool for umpteen hours in a row) will a wothrwhile use of time.
• Pahu I'a at the Four Seasons has unseated Daniel Thiebaut as the best meal on the island. Maybe the best meal ever. We're turning into foodies, Hubby and I.
• All of the best goodies can be bought at Farmer's Markets and Roadside Stands. We bought tropical flowers to enjoy in our room, a tiki for the house, andlots of treats at our favorite fruit stand. If you happen to be passing by the South Kona Fruit Stand, I highly recommend their fresh coconut macaroons, and their dark chocolate/coconut brownies! Hubby says try the tomatoes.
• Baby Girl likes snorkeling (she thumped when I saw Honu), and did not want to leave the island.... in fact, I blame the crying fit I had upon leaving the Fairmont on her. I wasn't overly happy or sad, but couldn't stop the tears. Really, though, who'd want to leave? Maybe she knows how much we love it there, and is excited for all the time she'll spend on that beautiful island in her life. We can't wait to show it to her for real!
  

Making babies without men....

Just in case my pregnancy and reproduction infused blog hasn't bored you yet, I found an interesting article today that suggested that sperm could be created from bone marrow stem cells, thus negating the need for men in reproduction. The article was supposed to be funny, and alluded to women taking over the world, and men living in stag colonies, subsisting on Doritos..... however, this got me thinking.

If it is possible for a woman to create sperm, or men to create ova from his or her own stem cells, could this not be the start of same-sex couples being able to create genetic offspring with their partners? I think that would be pretty great.

Pregnancy Update - Week 23

There have been a few nervous moments this week. Little girl appears to have relaxed or something, because she's not moving as much as she was last week, or at the very least, I can't feel it as well. So, the Doc wanted to see me. They're going to be so sick of me by the time I deliver. However, when I apologized for another un-scheduled appt. the nurse and the doc assured me that if there's something wierd, they certainly prefer to have me call and ask and let them decide if I need to be seen rather than just assume everything is okay. They also let me know that I am certainly not the first first-time mommy to make a lot of calls and ask a lot of questions. At least I don't panic or get demanding. I think they like me. And I love the staff there. Pregnancy can be spooky, and they always make me feel great about it all.


The good part of going in for this appointment was that I got to try out a new toy- the fetal non-stress test machine. This is the one where they put two straps with monitors around your belly- one to measure uterine contractions, and one to measure the baby's heartrate. The heartrate and fetal noises are amplified on a speaker, and you get to watch the little richter scale of both readings print out while you lay there for about 20 minutes. Baby Girl's steady heartbeat was so fun to listen to, and while I couldn't feel her terribly well, you could hear her swimming around in there. Getting very close to the monitor (loud heartbeat) as to investigate, and then swimming away and giving it a swift kick. She's funny. And spunky. I like that. Dr. Hannah said that even though I'm not feeling it well, she's a very busy and healthy little person, and the fact that she was annoyed by the monitor is a good sign. It means she's hearing well enough to be annoyed by the echo of her own heartbeat.

Just to check, she also did an ultrasound. The good news is that it appears my placenta is moving away from my cervix, but is still totally upfront. While that takes a lot of risk out of the equasion, it's still giving Baby Girl a nice squishy pad to hole up behind. I could see her wiggling around, but can't feel it because of all the padding.... Hmm. Perhaps that means I should rethink the chocolate croissant I'm about to munch? I think not.


Getting another reassurance of her health and wellbeing won't be great before heading out on our vacations. Now I can really just enjoy myself, and enjoy feeling her move when I can. It's the greatest.

4 Real?

Apparently, there is a family in New Zealand going to court because the government is refusing to recognize their baby's name. They have named the baby ..... wait for it.... 4real. Because they were so overwhelmed with the reality of actually having a child. I mean, you should be allowed to name your kid what you want, but I have to kinda side with the gov't on this one, if only for protecting them from their own idiocy.

Apparently, this same authority has also blocked the names Satan and Adolf Hitler. Do people really want to do these things to their kids?

Sextuplets

I know it was very important to Hubby and I to see that there was only one bun in the oven early in the pregnancy. We could have handled two, but prefer one at at time. This year, however, there appears to be a rash of multiples in the news. Most visible, were the two sets of sextuplets born just a day apart.

My first comment on this is humorous. Look at this poor guy. Interviewed for the Today show, he looked like he just wanted to end it all. Hell, mom had to carry them, then had heart failure after the delivery and she looks downright perky. I dunno what I'd do with 6, but I certainly hope our one doesn't leave Hubby with an expression like this.

Sadly, for second set of sextuplets, 4.5 months early, news came today that 4 of them have died. I can't say what I'd do in a similar situation. I know that doctors recommend selective
reduction in cases of more than three fetuses. While it would be an agonizing choice to do this, one has to wonder how someone can go through a pregnancy, knowing it'll be wrought with complications, health problems and low survival rates for the babies, risk to the mother herself, and the physical/financial/sanity challenge of raising 6 children of the same age, something I imagine very few people have the wherewithall to undertake. I have to wonder if delivering 6 babies in an emergency at 24 weeks, only to watch 4 of them die is easier than making the decision to remove 3 or 4 embryos early in the pregnancy. As I've said, I have no idea what I would do. I am so very sad for this family, and am so very grateful for my easy and healthy pregnancy (knock wood!).

I am converted.....

Say will be horrified. Today, at the behest of some friends, I tried on a pair of crocs. True, they're not attractive, but they may be the most light and comfortable shoes I've ever tried on. I wore them for hours and my pregnant feet are very, very happy. In fact, I may get a second pair tomorrow. And make Scott try some on. Wow.

My friend's Kickass job....

This is awesome.

Addition to Muggle Blog....

I totally forgot to add that I think I found evidence to prove that Snape may be ultimately good. When Harry is in the office with the faux-Moody, faces become clear in the Foe Glass- Dumbledore, McGonegall and Snape. It was unclear to me whether the faces became clear because they entered the room, or if they became clear right before they entered the room. Because of the way the foe glass was described as working, it seems that it would only show your enemies. If Barty Crouch Jr.'s foe glass showed those three, one could assume that they're all on the side of good. Devices like these are not fooled by behaviors. I'm open to suggestion on this one. I think I could be wrong.

Muggle Blog II

So my Dude over at www.mysocaldlife.blogspot.com has already made some good points about Goblet of Fire, but I have a few of my own to add. However, I can poke a hole in his theory about Voldemort/Tom Riddle. Voldemort was Tom Riddle. Named for his muggle father, and his middle name was from the wizarding side of the family. So the Riddle's grown up son was the one who got Voldy's mom preggo, then left her when she found out he was a witch. Same name. Makes it confusing. Because there was no record in the Muggle world of Tom Riddle having a son, Tom Marvolo Riddle, he probably wouldn't have inherited the wealth.

So, on to my observations. At first, I thought I'd found a HUGE problem in the Priori Incantatem scene, where James came out of the wand before Lily. Meaning that James would have been killed AFTER her.... Unfortunately, after spending more time researching, this was a mistake made by the American editor in the rush to get the book out, and was changed to the correct order in later editions.

The planet Mars seems to be very important to the series. In Azkaban, the centaurs keep repeating that "Mars is bright tonight." And now, in Goblet, on page 575, professor Trelawney says, "We have almost finished our work on planetary divination. Today, however, will be an excellent opportunity to examine the effects of Mars, for he is placesd most interestingly at the present time....." Mars was the God of War, so it may just be that simple. But perhaps Harry and the others should pay a bit more attention in Divination, because it seems to forshadow big movements by Voldemort.

My final observation is also small, and could just be a editing mistake. On page 725, the book refers to the horseless carriages that will take the students to the train. At this point, Harry has witnessed the death of Cedric, and therefore should be able to see the Thestrals that are pulling the carriages as he does upon his return to school in book 5. This is far more likely an editing mistake, but it's something that caught my eye.

Pregnancy Update - Week 22

So, there have been good times and bad times this week.... The whole uncomfortable body- image thing finally came to a head. think I finally figured out what's been bugging me lately. I love being pregnant. I can't wait to have this little girl in my arms. I'm happier and more content than I've ever been in my life. I feel feminine, and radiant and glowy. So, every time I try to shop for clothes and things either make me look just fat, or are like a tent, and looking in the mirror presents, pasty, zitty skin, and dark eye circles, it's twice as disappointing. Why can't my outside reflect how I feel on the inside? And it REALLY doesn't help that two people this week said, "My GOD you're going to be HUGE!" However, in the last day or two, I've realized that how I feel is really what matters. It's a high and low thing and I'm sure it'll hit again.

And the great news is, that just in time for Father's Day, little girl kicked hard enough for Hubby to feel it.

Muggle Blog

There are spoilers here just in case anyone is so far behind that they haven't read books 4 and 5 of the Harry Potter Series.

So, one of the Dudes and I are rereading all the Harry Potter books in anticipation of the new movie and book coming out next month. I searched in vain for new information in the first three books, but hit something interesting while rereading Goblet of Fire. I'm only 250 pages in, but I may have stumbled across something. One of my favorite elements of Order of the Phoenix is the fact that Harry has to take Occlumency lessons from Snape in order to control Voldemort's access/influence on his mind. Book 5 is the first time we hear of this practice. HOWEVER, now that I'm looking back, I noticed that Harry, even though his rational mind tells him he can't enter the Triwizard Tournament, he continues to dream and get visions of himself winning said Tournament. Is this, perhaps, the first time Voldy is exhibiting influence? Has it happened before book 5? I certainly think so. It's not a game changer, but it shows that JK knew what was coming and wanted to set it up. It also begs the question, if Voldy can influence Harry's thoughts and ambitions about the tournament, what information could he have been taking from Harry all along?

Oh yeah, and I'm 28. Yesterday was my b-day. Yahoo.

Pregancy Update- Weeks 20 & 21

Lots of action!

At the beginning of Week 20, I felt something I thought could be here. It is. I'm certain of it now. Lots of little thumps and rolls. Inconsistent, unfortunately, but getting more frequent. What I feel was described best by a friend as "a goldfish bumping up against the side of a bowl." Already they're getting stronger.... I'd say she feels more like a small koi fish now. I appear to have missed flutters completely. I had assumed they were gas.

Speaking of gas.... with the good comes the bad. Gas is a fact of pregnant life, and up til now I've been able to keep it pretty discreet. Last night, however, the sound barrier was breeched. I audibly farted in the presence of my husband. I was in the other room, and it snuck up on me, and managed to get up before I could get to a more soundproof location. Not big and scary- just a breezy little toot, but enough to result in a, "Ummm..... did you just fart?" from the other room. Followed by both of us in fits of laughter the likes of which we haven't seen in a while. I'm flushed and giggling again just talking about it.

In addition, I appear to have hit the part of pregnancy that includes middle-of-the-night bathroom runs. 3:45 a.m. on the dot for two nights now. No biggie for me. I've managed to shuffle to and from the potty without turning on lights or opening my eyes completely, but I feel badly because it wakes Hubby (even for just a moment) and the cats appear to be very disgruntled by this new schedule. They sleep cuddled by my feet and have to move out of the way so I can get out of bed. Poor boys.

Best Friends

I hope that this little girl is lucky enough to have a friend in her life like my best friend. She was only here for three days this weekend, but with us, it's like no time has passed. We don't have to do anything special, or go anywhere special... we just have fun. Honestly, we spent most of the weekend wandering around malls and sitting on the sofa reading (and eating ice cream) and it was the best weekend I've had for a long time. Female companionship is something you can't put a price on. I wish so much that Say was closer. She's part of the family that I've picked. People should consider themselves lucky if they have one friend in their life that is that good. I know I do. I'm even luckier... I have two or three great women friends, and a few great guy friends too.

Playing Catch-Up

Okay, so I just figured that no one would be interested in the minutae of this pregnancy, so I haven't been updating my blog. I got chastised for this by the Dudes this weekend. So here it is. Below, you will find a journal I've been keeping on my pregnancy website- from the very beginning of this journey.

Weeks 18 and 19

My big AFP Blood test came back and shows no risk of genetic diseases, heard the heartbeat at Dr. G's. He tells me not to worry about the low-lying placenta, but the research I've done says it can cause bleeding or the need for a c-section. I'm not really worried, but I'm glad I know what's up. We're going to decide on our summer trip back East after the next appointment. Hopefully the placenta will be away from the cervix, and then we can go and spend a few days at the River with the fam. Otherwise, it's going to be simply a trip to Buffalo. Also fun, but will disappoint the in-laws if we can't make it for the River trip. Between that concern and the not-great picture we got of the girl-parts, Dr. G said I can have another ultrasound at my next appointment. YAHOO.

I'm still not really showing (unless I wear the right clothes), but felt something today that could have been her moving. It wasn't flutters or bubbles, but felt like something else someone described- like a goldfish bumping up against the side of the bowl. We'll see. If it continues to happen, I'll know it was real. I can't WAIT to feel her move. That's what makes weight gain (only 6 lbs so far), and sore hips and crazy dreams all worth it.

The best news of the week is that the best friend, Ms. Say is coming to visit this weekend. We're going posh baby shopping. YAHOO.

Memorial Day- Warning Long Post

think about the reality of Memorial Day more often these days. A couple years ago, a good friend of mine returned from service in Iraq. Every day he was there, I thought of him and hoped with all my might that there would never be a Memorial Day when I would have to mourn my friend. I am lucky to still have him in my life. And while he is still a wonderful man, and a good friend, he has been changed by this experience. I can't say if it is for better or for worse, because we've spoken twice in these two years, and have only exchanged three or four emails that didn't originate in his mass email updates to friends. I am forever grateful for these updates, because I know how busy he is, and don't expect him to take the time to write or see each of his million friends around this country - and juggle law school, veteran advocacy, deal with recovering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. I love seeing him on CNN or reading an article he has written to try and make people pay attention to things they'd rather not notice. I really believe that someday Patrick will be a great leader for our generation and for our Country. He has been a huge influence in my life, has forced me to look at things in a different way than how I was raised, and would probably be shocked to know that with my recent move, I plan to reregister as an "independent" voter. I miss my friend, and I love him more than he will ever know. I want my husband and my daughter to know him. I'd also like for anyone else who reads this blog to know him. So, I have copied an article featuring my friend that was published this week in the Washington Post (please don't sue me).

A Soldier Drawn by Duty and Changed by the Sacrifice
By Marc Fisher
Sunday, May 27, 2007; Page C01

On the afternoon of Sept. 11, 2001, Patrick Campbell walked over to the Pentagon and asked if he could help search for bodies. Only if you're a medic or a firefighter, he was told. That day, Campbell decided to become a medic.

So you know Campbell has, as he puts it, "a bad habit of running towards problems."

This country has been at war for four years, and during that time, less than 1 percent of Americans have served in the conflict. Maybe 5 percent have family or close friends fighting in Iraq. For the rest of us, the war is something that happens to other people. Patrick Campbell came from the 95 percent.

He grew up in a house in Southern California where a child wasn't even allowed to have a squirt gun. His father called Boy Scout camp "death camp." When Patrick announced he intended to join the
Army, his father tried to bribe him not to enlist, offering to cover civilian EMT training and replace what the military would pay toward Patrick's law school tuition.

Despite his background, despite the fact that he had been student body president at the University of California at Berkeley, a campus where he knew of not a single graduate who had joined the military,
Campbell enlisted. He had spent too many hard minutes looking at the "Faces of the Fallen" feature in this newspaper, the gallery of photos of men and women who died because they accepted the mantle of duty, and Campbell couldn't figure out why it was okay for him not to be there with them.

The war began a month after Campbell signed up. But because Campbell had finished his first year of law school at Catholic University and because he was the kind of recruit who was officer material, the Army was inclined to put him in a safe, easy place. Supply clerk, desk jockey. Campbell insisted on becoming a medic on the frontlines. He ended up with a Louisiana National Guard infantry unit in which almost everyone else knew one another and almost no one else had been to college. The other guys called him "Tootsie."

Campbell spent a year in Iraq, mostly sewing up Iraqi civilians. Sixteen times, he came closer than he'd care to remember to bullets, bombs or mines. He counted. His life was a bewildering series of abrupt shifts from the weird, dormlike comforts of a U.S. base -- 30- inch TVs, networked Xboxes, a full array of ice cream flavors -- to the guts-in-your-throat fear of patrolling Iraqi neighborhoods where anyone could be the enemy and only the little kids could be trusted. "It was back and forth every day: college, war, college, war."

"At no point did I ever see my enemy," he says. "You're sitting on all this anxiety, and you have nowhere to focus it. . . . My mission over there was for the most part to not die. I was definitely inspired to accomplish that mission, but that mission is not inspiring."

Being at war in Iraq is not like other wars. There are very few moments of victory. There is no place out there on the horizon where the thing will be won. Campbell and his fellow soldiers had to get
accustomed instead to orders that said you will patrol all day and you will respond only to a "spectacular event." One day in 2005, hundreds of Iraqis died in a bridge collapse. Campbell says his unit was told not to respond "because we wanted to show the American people that the Iraqi Army could handle it. I believe I could have saved 100 people that day."

He kept a blog. He wrote everything down. And when he came home later that year, his friends loved to hear the story about how he peed on a bomb, realized what he was doing and scampered away with his pants down at his ankles.

But his friends didn't care to hear most of Campbell's stories. "Me and my friend who works on avian bird flu," he says, "we called ourselves the party-killers. We'd talk, and there'd be this uncomfortable silence."

Example: A friend asked Campbell if he would wear one of the "Save Darfur" rubber bracelets she was handing out. "No," Campbell replied, "I had a negative experience with those." She looked at him
like he was nuts. And he explained that he had inadvertently left his "Save Darfur" bracelet inside the head of an Iraqi on whom he was operating. The civilian had been shot in the head, and Campbell
couldn't save him. Somewhere in the frenzied rush to operate, the bracelet had slipped off. It was "probably the worst experience in my life, when I lost my first patient," Campbell says. "I had to be okay with the fact that this guy died so we could feel more safe about ourselves."

When he came home and took an apartment in downtown Washington, Campbell, now 29, became someone he didn't recognize. For the first time in his life, he got into fights. He was impulsive, buying big-ticket items that he couldn't afford and didn't need. He alienated friends, acted like a boor.

He got through it with the help of a counselor and the support of random people who every day thanked him for his service. "I have no idea how I would have made it through coming back in the Vietnam era, being called 'baby killer' and stuff like that," he says. "I am thankful that this generation has learned to separate the war from the warrior."

Campbell is in his last semester of law school. He spends a lot of time talking about his war, working for the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, telling his stories to politicians and college kids and whoever will listen.

Some people hear him. Most don't. "As long as this country has not been asked to make some meaningful sacrifice, this country will not know what this war really is," he says. "They'll keep going to Starbucks and talking about Paris Hilton."

Campbell doesn't believe in the war that the administration is fighting. He believes in a different war: "We need to be there because we knocked down the beehive, and now the bees are swarming all over."

Two years after coming home, "there are still times I feel so angry and I can't figure out why," he says. He still has outbursts. "No one comes home from war the person they left."

This Memorial Day, Campbell worries about passing the bar exam, and about the guys who are still over there, and about the order he expects to get any day now, sending him back to a place where there is no victory.

IT'S A GIRL!

Had our 18 week Ultrasound with the specialist. The baby has grown so much that we could hardly tell what was what in the ultrasound. When the tech froze the screen to tell us the sex, none of us had a clue what we were looking at. The baby looks fantastic. Growth is right on, and everything looks healthy- including her sweet little heart. The only concern is that my placenta is still low-lying and close to the cervix. I'll talk with my regular doc about it, but they said not to worry too much. It usually clears up later in the 2^nd trimester.

The Mom came with us. I still don't' think this is really real to her, but she was excited, and we went for lunch and baby shopping after the appointment was finished. She's already starting a pretty cute wardrobe. What else could you expect from my daughter.

Update for Pregnancy Weeks 16 and 17

Had a great appt. with Dr. G. Found the heartbeat on the Doppler with no problem. Strong and healthy. The whole appointment was about 45 seconds long. I'm guessing that means that everything's great!

The Snoogle is the best pregnancy product in the history of history. It's a C shaped pillow that hooks around your neck, supports your back, and fits in-between your knees- helping you to sleep on your side, and making you comfy. I love it.

We've planned another trip to Hawaii. It's our last hurrah before baby arrives and neither one of us can wait!

Oh, and I think the cats know that I am pregnant. They certainly know something is up. Check out this picture of the big one snuggling up to my belly.

Mother's Day

I've received cards from Hubby, BIL & Fam, Say, and another friend. I'm really a mom. That makes me so happy. I hope that wanting to be a great mom is half the battle. I want to do the best job ever for this little one.

I also realized that the baby's duedate (October 17) is the anniversary of the date on which I was diagnosed with PCOS and really thought I might never have children. It's funny how the world works, isn't it?

Update for Pregnancy Weeks 14 and 15

Found the townhouse we'll be moving to. We've decided to pull the plug on moving out of state until after the baby comes. I think we'll be happy in the new place. The rent is high, but it's a great unit, and we'll be really comfortable there.

By hitting week 15 of the pregnancy, I'm now officially in my 2^nd trimester. At this point, the chance of losing the baby is negligible. Congratulations, Bump! We made it.

I still haven't gained weight, and I'm not really showing, but skinny and not terribly pregnant looking is better than enormous, right? The best news this week is that the Perinatologist/Genetic Counselor's office said we have only a 1 in 10,000 of having a baby with downs. That's the best odds you can get. Yay for a healthy Bump!

First Trimester Screening

Today was our 1st Trimester scan and it could not have gone better. Our baby was bouncing around like crazy, kicking and waving and trying to get comfy in his/her squishy little house. We saw and heard a strong heartbeat (157bpm), saw two hands and two feet, a sinus bone(the tech said babies with Downs don't have those....), two even and well-developed lobes of the brain, a good neck measurement, a beautiful profile, a strong looking spine. The doc said at this point, it's time to stop worrying about everything and just enjoy being pregnant. Whew. The picture you see here is Bump's profile.

Today was special, though. It's not every day you can watch your husband fall absolutely in love with his child. What a day! Mommy is exhausted from all the excitement, but couldn't be happier.

Update for Pregnancy Week 12 - Feeling Better?

Nausea and food aversions are decreasing. I guess that means I should start eating more than bread and cheese. At least I can eat ice cream again. Having an aversion to ice cream got scary.

Not showing yet, although I'm wearing maternity clothes and have been since week 5. That was mostly because having my belly restricted made me sick.

Spoke too soon on the nausea thing. Puked for the first time. Up until now, there's been a lot of gagging, but no actual puke. I guess that means she's happy and doing well.

Update for Pregnancy Week 8 & 9

The nausea is back with a vengeance. I'm living off of Preggie Pop Drops ( a must-have) and saltines. I've dropped 2 lbs. Fine with me.

Books you should read if you're pregnant: Belly Laughs by Jenny McCarthy and The Girlfriend's Guide to Pregnancy by Vickie Iovine. Both are funny, insightful, and above all- HONEST about everything.

Books you should avoid like the plague: What to Expect When You're Expecting. This book should be called "Everything that could go wrong with your pregnancy." If you're looking for a panic attack, or think your blood pressure just isn't high enough, give it a try. If you MUST read this- read only the description of your month- do not go anywhere near the 300 pages of complications at the back of the book.

Everything they say about wacky pregnant dreams is true. This week I had a dream that my doctor's office was outdoors, next to an ocean inlet. After my exam, I was babysitting Suri Cruise and watching a humpback whale swim around the medical plaza. Oh, and did I mention the one about being trapped in a jeep with rattlesnakes and Bindi Irwin? What is it with celebrity kids in my dreams?

I also had yet another ultrasound- the bean continues to grow and the heartbeat still looks great. Dr. G is very happy for me. This time, the baby even waved an arm nub at me. His or her very first, "Hi mom!"

Update for Pregnancy Week 7 - Panic & Joy. Ah, Parenthood.

Week started off with a panic attack. I didn't feel good and ended up staying home, but I wasn't nauseous, and my breasts weren't sore. I actually called the doctor and asked for an ultrasound because I felt too good. It went perfectly- heartbeat is still strong, the bean has doubled in size, and the doc says everything is "perfect." He also said that while he understands the panic attack, and that he's always happy to see me, if I do it again, he will have to point and laugh. My doc is so kickback. I love it. He always makes me feel so much better.

We told our families this weekend. While it's still technically "early." This time, I'm embracing it, and want everyone to share it with us. Everyone was thrilled.

I'm 5 again.....

Hubby had never seen this, so we had to find it on YouTube. I LOVE this toon.

Update for Pregnancy Week s 5 & 6 – We have a Heartbeat!

Even though I've passed the mark where the first pregnancy miscarried the first pregnancy, I'm always checking to see if my boobs are still sore, and go a little too long between meals so I'll feel nausea. Every symptom makes me feel better. Most of the time, I feel like I've just finished a marathon. Mostly I just want to sleep, but have to talk myself into eating every once in a while.



Hubby came with me to the 2nd ultrasound, and I'm so glad he did. As soon as we saw the little blob in the sac, I started to giggle, because I knew it was great news. The doc told me to hold still for just a second, and as soon as I did, the center of the blob started flashing in a nice, strong rhythm. . . a heartbeat. Once you see the heartbeat, the chance of miscarrying goes down to 5%. We both got teary eyed. It was one of the most beautiful things I'd ever seen.



Also this week, I had a great, very vivid dream about having a baby girl. In the dream, she was about 9 months old, with two little teeth and lots of wispy blonde hair. Pretty cute if you ask me.

First Ultrasound

IT'S THERE!!!! My precious little bean is RIGHT THERE! I can't actually see the bean, but I had a big bubble where the little bean is going to grow. :) He said it's exactly what we should see at this stage. I go back next week to hopefully see a yolk in the sac, and then the week after THAT to maybe see a heartbeat. He also said that the nurse misspoke yesterday- she meant that my numbers were low because I was so early..... We're not nearly out of the woods yet, but it looks like the little bean is here to stay.

By the way- something they don't tell you before you're pregnant. The ultrasound is not always the little device that's on your belly. OH No! When it's early, and the baby is very small….they use a probe. I've heard it fondly referred to as Dildo-Cam. How appropriate.

Oops, We did it again. . .

Update for Pregnancy Week 4- We find out

Ever since we got married, the #1 question Hubby and I have been asked is, "So, when are you going to have a baby?" Today, we are thrilled to finally have an answer. "Bump" is scheduled to make his or her appearance on October 17, 2007. Only 1 month after my miscarriage, I am pregnant again. The test came back loud and clear last night, and again this morning. Other than sore boobs, no symptoms, no awful cramping, no feeling of being sick.... I'm hoping that means this one is healthy.

Had HCG (the pregnancy hormone) testing on Wednesday and Friday. The numbers should double to indicate a healthy pregnancy. They did, but the nurse said the numbers were low. Because I needed something to freak out about. It went from 150 to 363 a few days before 5 weeks.

In other news, we sold the condo. We are officially in escrow. On to the new adventure…

Cuter than cupcakes.....

Ted is keeping warm.....

Harry Potter Proper, and Harry Potter Hotness?

So, Yay, it's going to be a Potterful summer. The OTP movie is coming out on July 13, and JK Rowling just announced that the 7th book will be released on July 21. While I'm not looking forward to the end of the series, I am anxiously awaiting this book. Looks like we'll be moving just in time for me to do a Harry Potter-a-thon to be ready for the 7 th book.

In other Potter news… Dan Radcliffe (who plays Harry in the movies) is causing a bit of a stir with his West End stage debut in Equus. First of all, it's a dark play about a boy that attacks horses. Second, the play involves full nudity. But the big hubbub is being caused by the promotional photos for the play… in which Dan is nude. The pics are tastefully done, but a lot of parents aren't pleased. I say more power to him. This is a great way to expand his range and not be typecast the rest of his life. I hope he can pull off the role. If he can, he's got a great future ahead of him…. But I'm frightened. I saw the pics. And d-d-damn. Harry Potter went and got hot. I am so disturbed that I think that. Especially since he's 17. Was it legal to even look at these photos?

Get a Grip and Save Your Money People...

The following is excerpted from an AP Article:

WASHINGTON - People once again spent everything they made and then some last year, pushing the personal savings rate to the lowest level since the Great Depression more than seven decades ago.

The Commerce Department reported that the savings rate for 2006 was a negative -1%, meaning that not only did people spend all the money they earned but they also dipped into savings or increased borrowing to finance purchases. The 2006 figure was lower than a - 0.4% in 2005 and was the poorest showing since a -1.5% rate in 1933 during the Great Depression.

The savings rate has been negative for an entire year only four times in history — in 2005 and 2006 and in 1933 and 1932. However, the reasons for the decline in the savings rate were vastly different during the two periods.

During the Great Depression when one-fourth of the labor force was without a job, people dipped into savings in an effort to meet the basic necessities of shelter and clothing.

Economists have put forward various reasons to explain the current lack of savings. These range from a feeling on the part of some people that they do not need to save because of the run-up in their investments such as homes and stock portfolios to an effort by many middle-class wage earners to maintain their current lifestyles even though their wage gains have been depressed by the effects of global competition.

Whatever the reason for the low savings, economists warn that it the phenomenon exists at a particularly bad time with 78 million baby boomers approaching retirement age. Instead of building up savings to use during retirement, baby boomers are continuing to spend all their earnings.

Geeez. And I though I was bad.

Space is cool.

Friday night, Hubby showed me this thru the telescope. My favorite so far. Yay Saturn.

Best Celeb Sighting of 07

Okay, so it's my first celeb sighting of a celeb in 07, but seeing as how we're probably moving out of state..... it might be my only. And that's okay.

So, I was having lunch on Friday with some new friends and their new babies, and doing some much needed girl time to get over some serious no-fun that started the year, when in walks Pete Sampras and his superhottie wife (just as pretty in person btw). They enjoy a good bento box lunch, and weren't celeb-y at all. Yahoo. I was tempted to say hello, but they were so low-key, I didn't want to disturb their lunch. I was, however, on the receiving end of a gorgeous Pete smile. Yahoo for me.

Golden Globes

Those of you who know me, know that one of my greatest joys in life is bashing on the fashions at Hollywood’s big events. Here is my take on last night’s Golden Globes:

• Who sent out the memo about everyone wearing white, Grecian toga gowns?
• What exactly possessed Vanessa Williams- Medusa Hair, weird dress, AND fur? Her show is a success, she doesn’t need a PETA protest to get her name back in the tabloids.
• Was it just me, or was Julia Louis Dryfus a little frenetic on the Red Carpet? Drunk maybe?
• WTF, E! The channel just aired a commercial proclaiming Dreamgirls the winner of 3 Golden Globes! The awards haven’t even started on the West Coast. You stink.
• Penny Cruz- The hair’s a little big, but she looks pretty.
• Eva Longoria- nice, safe, but I’m not crazy about the Hey-Look-at-my-Tits detailing around the bodice.
• Kate Walsh- She rocks. Sooooooo classy.
• Ellen Pompeo- Hair and makeup is great, but I’m not a fan of the dress. In a way, it reminds me of the Celine Dion backwards-white-tux disaster. Plus, that girl could REALLY use a cheeseburger.
• JLo- Didn’t we do this same dress two years ago in green. And by the way, the audience doesn’t give a rats ass about your bet with Brad.
• Chandra Wilson- SO HOT! Funny, talented, and a long way from playing Gary Coleman on Broadway. She’s my favorite thing about TV right now.
• Ben and Jen- such a cute set. You got so lucky, dude. And I think you know it.
• Felicity- gorgeous as usual.
• Cate and Renee- safe but very good. Cate could use a hairbrush.
• I’m not sure what I think about being able to see everyone’s calves. . . I’ll get over that.
• Angie Jolie, you look gorgeous, babe, but do you have to be a total bitch on the Red Carpet. I’m not fond of Seacrest either, but DAMN.
• Reese- SMOKIN. If the best revenge is looking good and living well, Ryan might as well roll over and die right now.
• Beyonce- Down, Diva. You’re not that great. Humility is not a bad thing.
• Kate Winslet- Not her best effort, but she simply rocks so much that I don’t care.
• Jennifer Hudson- Great for her freshman effort, and so poised for someone who knows she’s a little out of her league. Beyonce- pay attention.
• I’m sorry, did Prince just win a Golden Globe? (He was in traffic, apparently waiting for his ugly orange suit.)
• Naomi Watts- Way to go. Different enough to stand out, but simple and elegant. LOVE IT.
• WTF is Trump doing there? Haven’t we seen enough of this ass lately?
• Hugh Laurie- Funniest acceptance speech E-V-A.
• Meryl- a little too flesh-toney for my taste, but always beautiful and appropriate.

My two faves of the night are America Fererra and Reese Witherspoon. Yowza. America's figure does wonders for a dress (again, yay for a figure), and Reese is just unbelievable.

I have to say, though, that the highlight of this year for me was the number of beautiful, accomplished women present, women that can really serve as role models for young women- America Fererra, Chandra Wilson, Shonda Rimes, Kate Walsh, Felicity Huffman (yes, I do have an affinity for ABC programs), Meryl Streep, Kate Winslet, Helen Mirren, etc. Hurrah for real women on the Red Carpet!

P.S. Jack Bauer is back too. So far, not my favorite season. But I believe that they'll work it out. Jack needs his hoodie and man-bag back. They're the source of his power.

Happy Christmas!

I'm still dreaming of a White Christmas..... just like the one two years ago....

Well, folks, there may be no snow, but today was a pretty fantastic Christmas. Hubby and I were spoiled rotten by the in-laws, then the BIL, SIL and two ever-talkative nieces came by for yummy turkeybird dinner, lots of desserts. One in particular will be added to my repertoire- a dessert ball. It looks like a nut covered cheeseball, but the filling is made with cream cheese, lots of sugar, chocolate chips... OY. Happy belly. Happy belly. I'll take pics the first time I make it. Now we're settling in to watch MORE sports (thank God I have a supply of books (old and new) at the ready.

Giftwise, it was a great year. I did well with all of hubby's gifts, and like two years ago (when we were engaged), he surprised me with jewelry. My wedding band has been upgraded to something bigger and more sparkly. It was far more than I had hoped for, and I love it. I love him. A lot. And not just because of sparkly gifts.

Being here for the holidays really makes me realize how lucky I am. I have a wonderful husband, the best set of In-Laws anyone could ever hope for, and everything and more that I could possibly need in live. Yay Christmastime.

Green Christmas

So, Buffalo got plenty of snow in October, when Hubby and I were nowhere to be found, and NOW, on CHRISTMAS EVE- not a flake. It's a bit of a bummer, I have to say. We do, however, have a yummy dinner on the way, a fire in the fireplace, and presents under the tree, so I think we'll make it. We've been here for 5 days and have 5 more to go, then it's on to househunting and a NYE party in Beantown. Maybe there will be some snow there.

Okay Okay, I haven't posted in like, a month... and for that I suck. I promise to catch up soon. For tonight, however, it must be said that El D is the funniest person I know. See below:

Karma

I have committed some crime against the universe and I am being punished. In the last month, I've been stressed, sick, zitty, and been unresponsive to my spouse. Together, hubby and I have lost 2 pairs of expensive glasses, damaged both of our own cars and a rental car, AND managed to become victims of identity theft for the 3rd time in 5 months.

I'm going to the farmer's market tomorrow. I will purchase sage to burn in our home. I may go to St. Max's and sprinkle holy water on myself. I'm sure as hell mailing the black sand I took back to Hawaii (it's the only thing I can think of that I've done wrong!!!). If any of you have other suggestions as to how I can make peace with the universe and get things back on a more positive track, please let me know.

Mea culpa.

Karma is a bitch.

Greatest Film of the Last 5 Years.

Tonight, Netflix brought us Supersize Me. This film was amazing. Morgan Spurlock is a genius. I recommend it to anyone. Talk about motivation to try to be a generally healthier person. Wow. And it has a catchy theme song too.

R.I.P Virgil Fish

It's a sad day at Casa de T. Goodbye, buddy.

Things l ike this really happen.

So, I took off early from work today, to go to the Home Depot and pick out the self-stick vinyl flooring Hubby and I have been pondering for some time. We've gone in and inquired twice, last time discussing with the orange apron the terms for having it professionally installed. The answer to that was simple... "Totally easy, man. We're in and out in less than a day." For $1.50 a square foot, I thought this was a great deal. So today, I loaded up the cart with tiles, and went over to the installation desk to set up the day our house would get even better. Alas. It was not to be.

Despite the fact that the sign that says "We install!" next to the tiles, and our previous conversation with a nitwit teenage employee, they do not install these particular tiles. Only sheet vinyl (which is ass-ugly by the way, and three aisles over). At this point they all look at me like I'm the idiot, and proceed to load my cart with all the trappings of this DIY project. All of which have scary names, toxic fume warnings, and cost an obscene amount of money. Tell me this. If a tile is made and advertised to self-stick to any surface, why do you need an adhesive primer that needs to be troweled on?

Then, they sent me over to plumbing, where I asked another orange apron for a tutorial in how to move my toilet in order to tile, then replace it. The process seemed simple enough. Well, not simple- there was talk of needing a hacksaw to cut rusted screws, but I thought I had it under control... until we got to this part... "Now, after you move the toilet, be sure to stuff a rag down the pipe or the gasses will escape and it'll probably make you puke." Excuse me? I jokingly said that I appreciated the heads up because mine is a small, unventilated bathroom in a pretty big building. He looked me right in the eye and said, "You need to be careful then. That stuff is pretty gnarly. You could like, pass out and die."

Um. No. I called hubby, and we decided that the selling price will not be terribly affected if we leave the old vinyl as-is. It’s better than having to tell the next buyer that the previous owner died in a tragic home-improvement-killer-ass-gas incident.

Greatest invention of the 21st Century...

Yes. A new one. Hubby found this. It will prove to be HOURS of entertainment when I should be working. Move your mouse. Click to change colors. It's okay. You can say it. Artistic genius is hard to deny.

Other announcements...

I came across this link today. It cracked me up.

Walkin' in Memphis

That is how I spent the weekend. Hanging out at my old haunts on the Rhodes College campus with lots of old friends. It's been 5 and half years since graduation, and the reunion was great. Well, the events I went to anyway. Highlights were as follows: Friday night- Dinner at Ciao Bella (a new spot for me, but ravioli to die for) and seeing Greg (my great friend, sometime big brother, and director) in Little Shop of Horrors. Saturday- Slept late, went to the McCoy Reception to see the new space (I can't believe how huge and fabulous it is!), caught up with former professors/friends, got to see where Kevin is now working, and spent a few minutes up in his office, showing Hubby some tapes of my glory days on that stage. Later that evening, we caught up more with another friend at his newly purchased incredible home, did the actual reunion party where we ran into some great people I hadn't seen in a while, then had burgers at Huey's- a must stop if ever in Memphis. Both Hubby and I managed to straw-launch toothpicks into the ceiling.... I guess you had to be there for that. Sunday was more sleeping late, lunch at Central BBQ (which usurped Corky's as my #2 favorite BBQ spot. Rendezvous is still #1!) and a lazy after noon discussing future plans with Say and A. Maybe my dream of living next door to Say, raising our kids together will come true... All in all, the weekend was just what I needed.

Greatest invention of the 21st Century...

This item has changed life (and foot stink) as I know it. They fit invisibly into every pair of shoes I've tried them with- even those with toe cleavage.

(RED)

I don't know what the rest of the world thinks, but I love crazy Bono's new idea to raise funds for AIDS in Africa. I went to the mall early to be there when the second shipment of (RED) products arrived at the Gap. I have two t-shirts, a bracelet, and about 20 of the pins. And YES, I did know about this initiative before it was on Oprah.

Hugs

Things like this don't happen nearly enough in the world. Yay for hugs.

A weekend in the wilderness....

Five days back at work after Hawaii proved to be too much for Hubby and I. This weekend, we ran off to my parents abandoned Ranch/Beach house (they were in Africa). While Hubby was disappointed in the general level of bugginess, it was a great time with lots of "us" time and plenty of sleep. Our first night was spent with Suzipoodles and the Vamp, doing some much needed catching up. Saturday night, El D drove up from LA to join us and my Aunt and Uncle for a margarita fueled evening with many, MANY stories told 'round the table. We are City Slickers, though. While on the deck, geeking out with the telescope, we heard rustling in the bushes. Dave said whatever it was was dog-sized and black. We soon retreated inside, assuming of course that it was a Scrunt.

No, really.... Now I'm done.

Say was in a low-budget horror film. I don't know about you, but lobsters scare the hell out of me. This is the trailer:

Oh, and one more thing.

Especially for my BDF(Best Dude Friend). This site entertained me for hours.

Invention of the Month- The Stinkfinder

This neato little gadget is a blacklight that you can use to find where your pets have had accidents. It comes with a little bottle of stain stuff called "Stink Free." Not only are you accurate in your stain-finding (tough when you have neutral colored berber in a dimly lit closet) and odor-killing, but t makes you feel like you’re on CSI. Romeo has had a real attitude problem since we got back from Hawaii, and it's manifesting itself in "accidents" a few inches from the litter box.

Yes, I know you can find it on TV as “Urine Gone,” but that’s just a gross name. This is the best pet gadget I've ever bought.

Greatest LA Celebrity Sighting...... Evuh.

Today at the grocery store, I was embracing fall- getting punkin pie fixin's, picking out squash, gathering the necessary ingredients for kick-ass veggie soup, when a man nearly bumped into me, said "Excuse me," smiled, and walked by. I was frozen in my tracks with a goofy grin on my face, because that man (no more than 6' taller than me, and skinny) was none other than my first REAL crush. The boy whose poster graced my ceiling. Sigh. That's right folks. It was Mr. Wholesome Troublemaker Sitcom Kid turned scary Bible Guy himself. KIRK CAMERON SHOPS AT MY GROCERY STORE. I was giddy as a junior high girl, and had to call my Hubby and squeal as soon as it happened.

Aloha Oe

What an amazing AMAZING trip. Sorry this will be a long entry, but I wanted to share the best-of from our trip back to the Big Island.

Day 1- We arrive in Hawaii at 11:30 a.m., make a beeline for the hotel, and cheeseburgers in paradise at the Ocean Bar. Upon check-in, we discover that we have received a free upgrade to an Ocean Front Room (tantamount to $1000/night during peak season). Our bellman said the hotel was at low- capacity…. Whatever. I could hear the waves break from my bed. This is our view.

Day 2- Snorkeling in the Pauoa Bay, Hike to the Captain Cook Monument at Kealakekua Bay. 2 mi each way, but on the way back it's an elevation gain of about 1400 feet. Owch. Thought I was going to die, but the trip really was worth it. The photo to the right is the plaque that sits just below the waterline where he was hacked to death. The actual monument is a 27' white oblisk.

Day 3- More turtle snorkeling, and exploration of the North Island, including the Pololu Valley lookout (left) where you can see the waves rolling in for miles onto the black sand beach. Had it been good weather, we probably would have hiked down, but we came upon it in a rainstorm. It rains a lot on that side of the island. In just a few hours, we were in ranch country, rainforest, lava desert and what looked like the African savannah. Our travels were rewarded with dinner at Daniel Theibeaud in Wimea. My #2 favorite discovery this trip. I had duck that I would lie down in traffic to have again. No, seriously. It was that good.

Day 4- Probably our most adventurous day on the island. We drove over to the windward side of the island (one big honkin' jungle), visited Akaka Falls, drove through Hilo, and ended up in Volcano Village at our guest cottage before traversing Chain of Craters road to our biggest/best hike- out over miles of lavafield (estimates of distance range from 3- 4.5 miles each way) to where lava was entering the ocean. Armed with as much water as we could carry, a few snacks, a flashlight and two headlamps, we made it out to where land was being made. Pictures cannot capture and words cannot describe what that view was like. After an hour of basking in the awe of nature, we made the hike back with only 6 blinking beacons- which kept disappearing behind hummocks of lava rock- and our headlamps. It was the toughest hike I've ever done, but also the most worthwhile. We crashed into bed moments after getting back to the cottage.

Day 5- On our drive back around the island, we stopped at Punalu'u Black Sand Beach and the Pu'uhonua o' Honaunau (City of Refuge). Both were magnificent- pieces of the real Big Island. It was so funny to see bus tours stop at each for ½ an hour, take their pictures and leave. Exploring these spots was one of the highlights of the trip for me. We also discovered the South Kona Fruit Stand- a great stop for organic island produce. This is where we bought our macadamias.

Day 6- We were so tired, we didn't even leave the resort today. But we did get a beachside massage. 'Nuff said.

Day 7- Another adventure- one that brought us back to the City of Refuge. The picture is of the Tikis there, but we had heard that the snorkeling here was amazing. That doesn't even begin to describe it. The reef was so vibrant. I'd say the snorkeling here is the best on the island- even better, and less crowded than Kealakekua Bay. This was my #1 discovery for this trip.

Day 8- More snorkeling at the City of Refuge and a touch of shopping in Kona. Our last dinner at the resort- more cheeseburgers in paradise.

Day 9- We check out. I cry on our balcony for a little while…soak in the view and the scent of plumeria before we leave the Fairmont Orchid. We do a little Hawaiian style graffiti (at left- we made a Honu), visit the best of Kona, and fly home.

So many great adventures and discoveries:

• "The Book" - Andrew Doughty's The Big Island Revealed is the greatest tool one can have in Hawaii.
• Turtles are one of the best things about Hawaii.
  
• Always book the Bed & Breakfast Package at the Fairmont Orchid. After that breakfast buffet, you don't need another meal til dinner.
• Rent your snorkel equipment from Snorkel Bob for the week, and don't waste too much time snorkeling at the hotel- get out to the City of Refuge.
• Kayak, don't hike to Kealakekua Bay.
• There is no such thing as taking "too much water" when hiking.
• Eat at Daniel Thiebeaud whenever you can.
• Fresh air is worth a 4-hour flight. Sniff the Plumeria. You will miss it in L.A.
  
• Take the earliest flight there and the latest flight home. Get every moment you can out of the trip.

Above everything else, I've learned how important it is to get away from everything and spend time with my husband. I am more in love with him now than I have ever been, and I can't wait to sneak away from the world with him again.