Un-wined of the Week - A Blast from the Past

Before I give my wine pic of the week, I have to make a confession that I have indulged in wine on more than one evening in the past week.  I'm on vacation, so I'm allowed.  In any event, I had a few wines to choose from, and I went with:

Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc, 2010
New Zealand

I don't drink white wine all that often, but a friend of mine recommended this and reminded me that it was the wine served at our wedding rehearsal dinner here in Wellfleet.  Plus, I like white wine when it's hot outside.  So it seemed fitting.  My sister and I cracked open this bottle and drank it outside on the deck last night after the kids went to sleep.

I am thinking I should try some whites more often!  It was very smooth - it didn't have that bitter hairspray aftertaste that I find with so many cheap white wines.  It has hints of citrus (I can't believe I am using these highbrow adjectives, but it's actually true), though it's just dry enough for me.  Overall it was very refreshing.  I guess that's why we chose it for our rehearsal dinner, though I have no recollection of doing so.  At $12.99 a bottle, I'll definitely buy it again.

Overall score: 9/10

All Grown Up

Do you ever have those moments where you have a sudden realization that you are a real grown up?  And it is shocking to you?

I've had some of them - much more so lately.  Whenever my husband and I discuss our mortgage or interest rates or 401ks, I have this sensation of: "Woah, I'm old.  This is real grown up stuff."  Or when I hear myself giving timeouts or urging Braden to eat vegetables.  I think, "Wow, I'm really a parent.  Listen to me!"  It's just a gentle reminder of the nail in the coffin of my youth.  That, and the minivan that I drive.  

I had another one of those moments a few days ago.  It was this past Sunday morning, the first morning in our vacation house in Cape Cod.  Though I have come up to Cape Cod every summer of my life, until this year, we have always stayed at my dad's rental house.  But now, the four of us are quite the gaggle, and are a bit more conspicuous than your typical house guests.  So this year, we decided to get our own house.  After all, we are grown ups, right?

Pic of the Week - View from the Wellfleet Harbor

Skies are clear.  It's 75 degrees.  And here is where I was this morning.  Does it get any better than this?

Summer Reading

As you may know, I'm on vacation.  Instead of getting a head start on my book club books, I am catching up on some blogs that I follow.  I should say, before I started blogging, I didn't really read any blogs.  But I was missing out!  There is some good stuff out there.  It's probably a good thing I didn't know about these while I was working, because it would have been too tempting to push document review aside and read about something of real substance.

In any event, I wanted to share some of these, because they are amazing.  So if you have time on vacation, or are bored sitting at work, you should check these out. I've broken them into categories for your reading convenience:

Pic of the Week - On the Road Again

As my husband got ready to pack the car this morning for our two week vacation, this is what he faced:

A Memory of Malaysia

For me, the anticipation of an upcoming vacation is like a really good drug.  With tomorrow's upcoming departure to Cape Cod, I awoke this morning happy, awake, and giddy.  T minus 23 hours and I am out of here!

I love vacation.  I've never understood those people that say they can only take a handful of days away from home, and then they want to come back.  Not I.  No, I would be happy being on the road constantly.  In fact, some of the best memories of my life involve months of living out of a backpack.  Life is different now, but I truly do miss those days.

After my husband and I graduated from law school, we took a two month backpacking trip through Australia and Southeast Asia.  The first couple of weeks took some adjusting, but by week 3 we were in the groove, and I could have gone on forever.  And in fact, we met numerous people who were on indefinite traveling expeditions.  People who had no schedule and no destination - just a backpack, some money saved, and an open mind.  Many of these people traveled alone.  If you didn't know any better, you might think this would be a lonely existence, but that was not the case.  Because there are so many of these lone travelers, people are friendly and welcoming in a way that doesn't exist in normal life.  Many people would link up for segments of a journey, part ways eventually, and then find another pack to travel with.  I have to admit, I was jealous of these people, and I couldn't help but feel like my husband and I were imposters, traveling amongst free spirits but bound by an impending corporate world that awaited us at home.

Un-wined of the Week - I Love Me Some Wine

If you know me, or you've been reading the blog for a while, you know I am a   wine-o.  I love, love, love me some red wine.  One weeknight per week, my husband and I treat ourselves to a bottle.  So I figured I might as well blog about it!  In any event, it will help me remember what I like and don't.

Our wine night is usually Wednesdays, but since my husband may have to work late tonight, we indulged last night instead.  Last night's wine pick was:

Smoking Loon Pinot Noir 2009
California

Pinot Noir is my favorite kind of wine, and this one was not bad!  For one, it did not stain my teeth red (I have very easily stainable teeth).  It was light and easy to drink.  My only complaint is that it was a tiny bit flat (does that make sense?) and musty.  But at the bargain price of $11.99 from the classy establishment of Talbert's, I would definitely purchase it again!

Overall score: 7/10

*Author's note: I am not being sponsored or paid by anyone to review certain wines.  But if you would like to send me some free wine, be my guest.  I am more than happy to sample it!  I am also open to any suggestions for future un-wineds of the week :) *

Sleep

As you may know from reading the blog, I have sleep issues.

I have never been the best sleeper.  I've never really been able to nap or sleep in cars or planes.  But give me my bed and eight hours, and that always worked for me.  I had no real complaints.

Since two days after Casey's birth, my sleep has been completely off.  My insomnia was the first sign of my postpartum depression, and what prompted me to go on medication.  Since then, the depression and anxiety have disappeared, and I am back to my happy go-lucky self.  Unfortunately, the sleep issues remain.

I have been on and off sleeping pills for the past eight months.  I'll go a month without using them at all, and then have one bad night, which results in my using the pills again for another six weeks.  Right now I am in an "on" period.  Which generally makes me feel sad and helpless.

Here is a typical night during my "on" period:  Get in bed at 10.  Watch TV until 11.  Turn TV off and begin to toss and turn.  An inner monologue begins, and goes something like this:

Losing It

I have always had my shit together.  That's just who I am - responsible, always on time (despite what my husband may think), never miss a deadline, etc.  I guess that's why I was always successful in a professional environment.

But since being home, I fear I may be losing it.  The following have occurred in the last three weeks:

Boys

[Yes, the long awaited post.]

I've seen a fair number of penises in my life.  Well, not too many, probably the normal, appropriate amount.  Enough to know what they look like and how they work.

But that doesn't prepare you for a baby boy.  You learn quickly that you've got to cover that thing quickly during diaper changes or you'll get splashed in the face by a yellow fountain.  (Despite my own advice, this still happens to me every few days).   And you definitely have to push it down when you put on the diaper.  Always push it down!

To complicate things, within the first weeks of life, if you decide to circumcise, you also have to deal with bandages and vaseline and a raw, red penis.  We are Jewish, and so we did a bris for both our boys.  That means some old guy comes to your house with what he considers to be a "medical kit" and cuts the skin off of your precious baby's penis right in front of you.  I was more than willing to forgo this tradition (and get my kids circumcised in the hospital, where I don't have to be in the room), but my husband insisted on it.  And my dad even watched both times.  Gross.

A (Virtual) Visit to Miami

I have a guest post in the Miami Herald Work/Life Balancing Act blog today.  If you want to check it out, click here.

The blog is authored by Cindy Krischer Goodman and is pretty awesome.  I'm honored to have had the privilege to write for it!

What We Used to Do

Before you had kids, what did you do on a sunny, warm, Saturday?  Do you remember?  Because for the life of us, my husband and I cannot.

We were married right after law school, and enjoyed two years together as a married couple before kids.  In the grand scheme of things, that's not that long.  But still, it's two years.  Two years of "freedom" - and we have no idea what we did?  This is what our children have done to us!

I can tell you what we were not doing.  We weren't exercising.  For better or worse, that's just not our thing.  We weren't shopping - we hate malls and crowded stores and prefer to buy online.  We weren't seeing the sights of our two former hometowns, Manhattan or downtown DC.  (You know how when you live somewhere you never end up doing the touristy things?)  We weren't going to movies, because my husband flat out refuses (weird).

I guess some of the time we must have been working.  We probably watched tv, but certainly not all day (I don't think!).  Then I suppose there was the occasional visit, trip away, get together with friends, etc.  And sleeping in - we definitely did that.  But a general routine?  No clue.  Having kids has changed  our world so much that it is literally hard to remember life before them.  It's just such a world away.  Can you imagine having every Saturday and Sunday to spend exactly how you want?  What on earth would you do?  The possibilities are endless!

Pic of the Week - A Road in Santorini

This blog has definitely consumed me more than I ever anticipated it would - in a good way.  At first I thought I would post once a week, then twice a week....  Now my goal is to post every day (I make no promises, this is just a goal).

I am just not smart, creative, or witty enough to come up with long posts everyday.  I mean, I could probably write a long essay right now about how I spent all morning cleaning the house and debating whether or not I should eat a french toast stick, but do you really want to hear that?  Probably not.

So I came up with the idea to post a picture each week.  I love taking photos, and I do it way too much (hence the 394 pictures that are due to be delivered from snapfish today).  I make no claim to being good at photography, but I enjoy it, and hey, it gives me something to post once a week.

Some pictures will be current, some not.  A handful will probably be of my former travels.  I was once quite the globetrotter, and it makes me happy to reflect on my carefree days and remember the world that is still out there.     Today's picture is from one of my favorite places: Santorini, Greece.  This is the typical "road" in Santorini (and that's my husband peeking into the photo!).

Enough Already

I am ready to lose this pregnancy weight.  Right now.

I have always been skinny.  In the "I bet she has an eating disorder" kind of skinny.  I was just built that way - a genetic gift.  In fact, when I was younger I used to try to force feed myself to ward off demeaning comments.  Suffice it to say, before kids, I never gave my weight a second thought.  I know, I hate the former me too.

But one of the negatives of being naturally skinny is that when you gain weight, it just doesn't look right.  It is all asymmetrical and misplaced and pregnant looking.  It's not evenly distributed.  Right now I have a jiggly ring sitting around my waste, bookmarked by skinny legs and saggy boobs, and enveloped by lanky arms.  It doesn't conjure up a pretty picture, and I can tell you, it's not pretty.

The first time I got pregnant, I started out underweight, but I soon made up for it and gained almost 50 pounds.  I thought I would leave the hospital with the baby in my arms wearing a size 2.  Ha!  It took me about 9 months to completely lose the weight, but after I weaned, the excess weight seemed to come right off.  This time around, I gained another 50 pounds and adjusted my expectations.  I knew it would take some time,  but I looked forward to the post-breastfeeding weight loss.  Nope, not this time.    I weaned, took a trip to Cincinnati, ate Skyline chili and Steak and Shake, and gained five pounds.  And it just won't seem to go away.

Not Feeling the Love

Today's post was supposed to be called "Boys," where I planned on discussing my recent potty training experience (doesn't that sound so compelling?).   I pondered entitling it "Penises," but thought that may be offensive to some, which is kind of ridiculous.  But I digress.

To be honest, it's just not what's on my mind this morning.  And in the three short months since I have started this blog, I have found that the best posts are the ones where I don't plan and the writing just flows - where I am the most sincere.

So what is on my mind this morning?  Mean people.

I get the occasional nasty comment on this blog.  That is only expected, really, so I generally try to shrug it off.  But yesterday it felt like there was a flood of them - so much so that I couldn't sleep last night and had to take a sleeping pill for the first time in two week (whine, whine).

I've Jumped on the Bandwagon

I'm now on twitter.

So let me get this right - I write a few sentences a few times a day?  And people read them?  This sounds like fun!

If you want to follow me, you can click here.

A Quick Note...

... to let you know that the web address of the site has changed.  Or is it url?  I don't know.  But the new website is www.butidohavealawdegree.com.  Basically, same address as before, minus the blogspot.  I splurged $10 to get my very own address.  I know, try to contain your excitement.

In any event, the old address will still redirect you here.

I'm on my way to going really high tech.  Baby steps.

Hope

When I came home from the hospital with Casey on October 22, 2010, Braden, my 2 year old, was not happy.  That is an understatement actually.  We walked in the door and he started running away from me screaming.  I finally caught up to him where he commenced the hitting, kicking, spitting etc.  Yeah, he was pissed.  Luckily most of his aggression was taken out on me, not Casey.

As the months have gone by, Braden's emotions towards his brother have gone from anger to annoyance to conscious indifference.  I joke that I don't think he has ever looked Casey in the face.  If I ever say, "Braden, say goodnight to Casey" he will look the complete opposite way and say, "Night."  Attempts to get the two of them in photos have been for the large part unsuccessful.  Braden has touched Casey maybe a few times, usually at the insistence of extended family that don't realize the extent of his disdain.

Bringing Home the Bacon

Things are happening, people.

First, I have made approximately $25 from this blog.  This is the most (okay, only) time I have ever been paid from writing something (legal briefs don't count).  So I am pretty proud of that $25, thank you very much.  It took about two months to get that $25, so if I'm calculating an annual salary, that would be $150/year.

Second, I think I may be getting a paid blogging gig for another website.  It's more of a corporate blogging thing, so I won't even link it to here.  And, okay, it is for a family member.  But I will get paid approximately $60 a week.  $60 x 52= $3120/year.   Now we are getting somewhere.

I'm Famous

Okay, not really.  At all.

But I have a guest blog post on another website today - Ms. JD.   To see today's post, click here.

And if you are coming over here from Ms. JD for the first time - welcome!  If you want to peruse the blog, start here.