kellymac

2009-11-03T22:28:00.000-05:00

Don't know if anyone actually follows this, but if you do, I'm here now:Georgia Natural Mom.

2009-02-16T12:10:00.001-05:00

We're under contract!!!!!!
http://tinyurl.com/dhpyz2

2009-02-14T20:31:00.005-05:00

Random acts of cuteness...

I think I'd be pretty charmed even if he weren't mine.

2009-02-14T13:59:00.000-05:00

We just made an offer on a house. Oh my. Actually, I'm surprising myself with how calm I am. I hope this is a good sign.

I'll post details if it goes through - don't want to jinx it. But oh, the kitchen...I am meant to have that kitchen!

2009-02-04T12:59:00.003-05:00

My li'l troll

2009-01-29T21:20:00.002-05:00

You know what I said earlier about C's magical laughter? That's the better of his two extremes. He's our little Jekyll/Hyde baby, and both sides have been prominently displayed today, often within two minutes. Hence, I'm tired, I need a Pop Tart, and I'll expound on parenting philosophies tomorrow.

In other news, we're starting our house hunt. Woot!

2009-01-28T16:23:00.006-05:00

Growth & Development/Feeding

Christopher currently weighs a little over 14 pounds. So far he seems to be a long and lean little guy. 3-month clothes are not tight around, but too short, so I've been on a bit of a shopping spree for him lately. Developmentally, he's got great neck and back control when held, and he's still figuring out the concept of sitting. He happily rolls from stomach to back as he hates tummy time, and he's rolled once from back to stomach when I wasn't looking. He can grab a toy with either one or both hands, and he just discovered a few days ago that he can grab his feet and, if unencumbered by clothing, can occasionally get one in this mouth. He coos very earnestly and laughs often - it's just magical.

Less than magical are some of our adventures and misadventures in breastfeeding, but thankfully, they are mostly resolved. Just before Thanksgiving, I came down with mastitis, and my milk supply took a dive. While I worked to get it back up, he got a lot of formula. It seems that he got used to the faster flow of a bottle (at least that's the most plausible theory after seeing his doctor and a lactation consultant) and became very frustrated when nursing. He would cry, scream, and arch his back a few minutes into every feeding. December was really difficult for us, and I almost weaned twice and emotionally beat myself up over it. Things finally got better somehow - I think it helped when I got a lot of support via Facebook from other moms I know and made a conscious effort to be kinder to myself and not feel like I would go to mommy hell if I formula-fed my baby. This and other experiences have proven to me that babies really do pick up on and mirror parents' tension.

In an effort to improve his sleep at night (a topic I'll save for later), we tried starting him or cereal just before Christmas at about 4 months of age. The effects on sleep were variable, but he loves the stuff, so we've been dabbling in solids ever since. The first feeding was, um, interesting...

He's really gotten the hang of it since then, and we've moved on to sweet potatoes and, starting yesterday, carrots. I could expound on what veggies do to his poop, but you might be trying to eat while you read this. Let's just say I've almost called in a biohazard crew for a couple of diapers this week.

Oh, one final milestone I want to mention - Christopher was baptized on January 11!

2009-01-27T22:17:00.002-05:00

Growth & Development

He's growing. He's developing. More to follow. (Rough day.)

2009-01-26T22:50:00.002-05:00

New Year's Resolution

The Western new year was a bit hectic, so I'm kicking off an intended resolution for the lunar new year: daily blogging. As much time as I spend on the Internet, I have no excuse. I regret not recording more of Christopher's first five months. I think I keep putting off blogging because I feel like I have to catch up on everything that I've skipped over, and that's daunting. This week, I'll be recapping the last five months in a few topical posts that I will now somewhat arbitrarily list:

Tuesday: C's growth and development
Wednesday: feeding: the good, the bad, and the really ugly
Thursday: "attachment parenting": the good, the bad, and the guilt-inducing
Friday: emotional challenges of motherhood

2008-12-03T13:57:00.000-05:00

Check out this very interesting blog post on language & breastfeeding.

2008-11-14T21:55:00.003-05:00

Baby notes:
-Regular social smiles & amusing vocalizations (Coooooo! A-oooooo!)
-Regularly sleeping for a 4-6 hour stretch each night.
-Getting a little better about naps (though today was a notable exception!)
-Prefers to be out & about to being at home...if he's crying as we get ready to go somewhere, he stops as soon as we get out the door.
-Still struggling with gassiness or some other source of pain while/after feeding...milk oversupply? Food allergies/sensitivities? (We're pretty sure that I can't drink cow's or soy milk or eat peanuts.I miss PB&Js.)

Mommy notes:
-Watching too much daytime TV while nursing.
-Managing to shower daily.
-Trying to manage expectations of self...not always doing this well.
-Still adjusting to the transition from full-time work (even though I stopped in June) to SAHMing. This is hard as hell sometimes. A lot of my identity was tied to my work, and that's gone now (or at least very much on the back burner). I intellectually know that what I'm doing now is an extremely important, worthy, and challenging job, but emotionally, it's hard not to buy into our culture's perception of being "just" a mom.

2008-10-31T21:12:00.001-04:00

Hey, peeps...

GO VOTE!!!

kthxbai

2008-10-27T10:30:00.003-04:00

Yesterday morning, our dear Benjamin left this world for a better place where he won't suffer any more.

We love you and miss you, Benji-boo. You brought us a lot of happiness and laughter in the five years we had together.

2008-09-29T17:00:00.003-04:00

My Birth Story

Christopher was due on September 14, but he had other plans. I woke up at 4:30 a.m. on August 25 with what felt like intermittent cramps in my extreme lower back. After lying there for a while and pondering the possibilities, I got up to check the pregnancy books and determine whether I was experiencing prelabor contractions (which can happen days or weeks before labor) or the real deal. Alex woke up a little later to find me pacing the living room and downing massive amounts of water to see if that would relieve the discomfort. Nope.

More pacing, a hot bath, breakfast, and a half hour of contraction-timing later, I started making the phone calls: my doula, the birth center, my mom. It was definitely not time to go anywhere yet, but since nothing was alleviating the contractions, I was more and more convinced that I was in labor. I puttered around the house that day, did a little laundry, and otherwise tried to take it easy. The contractions got more uncomfortable and made getting a nap impossible. I talked to my midwife late that afternoon and described the contractions, and she told me to get on my knees and lean over some pillows to encourage Christopher to turn, because it sounded like back labor (baby facing he wrong way & putting pressure on the tailbone). Fun.

After leaning over an exercise ball through Wheel of Fortune & Jeopardy (nice distractions), the midwife called and told me to come on in and she'd check my cervix. Turns out I was dilated 4 centimeters at that point, so we settled in at the birth center for the night. I need a completely separate post to extol the virtues of the birth center, my midwife (Jill), and my doula (Tiffany), but one huge plus was being allowed to eat during labor. We'd picked up Zaxby's on the way, and I also downed a huge jug of Gatorade over the course of the night.

I'd read that women often lose sense of time during labor, and I did. The discomfort I'd been in all day got more and more intense, and I walked laps through the halls, leaned over a ball, etc., but the contractions weren't getting any closer together, and I couldn't seem to dilate beyond 7 cm. Jill wanted to break my water to move things along since I seemed to be stuck, and she said I could get in the birthing tub afterwards. I had been excited about using the tub since it seemed like it would be so much more comfortable.

Thing is, the contractions got very intense and very painful after my water was broken. I'm sure I was not a pretty sight. If Jill hadn't checked and told me that she could feel Christopher 's head, I was ready to sell my soul for some pain meds. If I'd known how much longer it would actually be, I would have definitely begged for them. Sometime in the tub, I started pushing during the contractions. Someone would give me a spoon of honey occasionally to help me keep my energy up, and I'm told that I got a little second wind with that. I had gone through Hypnobirthing training with Tiffany, and though I was nowhere near as tranquil as the women in the videos I'd watched, I tried to just go inside myself during the contractions, focus on the fact that they were bringing Christopher closer to me, and, not use any negative self-talk (the hardest part of it all, I think).

Things get a little fuzzy in my mind...the nurse helped me to the bathroom since I hadn't peed lately (remember all that Gatorade?), and I couldn't go. Nothing would happen. Jill had me lie on the bed for a while to push, and she twisted up a bed sheet, held one the end, and had me pull on the other end through the contractions while I pushed and Tiffany and Alex held my feet so that I would have something to bear down against. Apparently the top of Christopher 's head kept crowning, then slipping back in when I stopped pushing. His head was cocked slightly, which was a big part of the hold-up. He was also putting pressure on my ureter, which is why I couldn't pee, but my full bladder was in his way. Jill finally said they'd have to cath me.

I never thought I'd say this about a catheter, but that was the best thong to ever happen to me. I was in too much pain to even feel it, and maybe two contractions later, Christopher was born. Once his head was out, his body just slid out, and it was a feeling of physical relief I've never felt anything like in my life. Jill and the nurse immediately suctioned his nose and put him on my chest with some blankets, and here's the amazing thing: he didn't cry. He wiggled, he grunted, he looked around, he held onto my finger for dear life, but apparently he had nothing to cry about. That alone makes me so glad that I had a natural birth in a quiet, peaceful setting with minimal interventions, and though it was the most difficult thing I've ever done, I'd do it the same way again.

2008-09-25T15:51:00.001-04:00

Last night we gave C his 1/2 mL of Zantac and put him down to sleep on a wedge baby pillow. I know I lay awake for at least an hour waiting for the nightly my-tummy-hurts meltdown.

Never happened.

I am a new woman.

2008-09-24T14:43:00.005-04:00

More photos by request

Rough night last night...no one got enough sleep around here. We went to the doctor today & are treating for possible reflux...nothing dangerous, just painful for the poor little pumpkin.

2008-09-23T13:30:00.004-04:00

On earning my mommy-blogger credentials...

I have a perfectly good excuse for not having posted for several weeks. His name is Christopher Patrick Tracy.

Life as I knew it was changed forever at 8:43 a.m. on Tuesday, August 26, 2008. (Life wasn't scheduled to change for another 3 weeks, but since when does life stay on schedule?)

The last four weeks have been an endless stream of nursing, changing diapers, nursing, attempting to calm the baby, nursing, re-reading the baby care books, nursing, laundry, and yes, nursing. Not so much sleep in there, you might notice.

Nothing I'd heard or read came close to preparing me for these four weeks. If you haven't been there, I could tell you how exhausting and all-consuming and emotionally roller coastery being the mother of a newborn is, but I doubt you'd believe me. I wouldn't have believed me.

The really crazy thing is that he's worth every bit of sleep deprivation, self-doubt, and confusion. From day one, something I'd never experienced before has felt so right. I am blessed.

2008-08-19T15:40:00.004-04:00

Inability to find a comfortable sleeping position...check.

Hands, feet, and legs bloated to cartoonish proportions...check.

Copious indigestion...check.

Half my torso's normal range of motion...check.

Onesies coming out my ears...check.

Unpredictable irrational emotions galore...check.

Carseat installed...OK, as soon as we install the carseat, can I have this baby? Please?

2008-08-14T14:25:00.003-04:00

7 things you didn't know about me

Whether or not you actually knew these things depends on who you are, I guess...hubby doesn't count. :)

(Thanks to Jenna for tagging me & shoving me out of my blogging slump!)

1. I just joined the 21st century and bought an iPod with my proceeds from turning 30.

2. Speaking of age, being an August baby means that I was usually the youngest kid in my class, and no one remembered my birthday because it was during summer break (back in the days when school started in late August as God intended.)

3. I'm planning an unmedicated birth and training in self-hypnosis to get ready. (More on that in a later post.)

4. I'm also planning to breastfeed, and the more I read about it, the more I want to become a genuine lactivist.

5. Part of me has always wanted to be an artist. Another part of me has always wanted to be a writer.

6. I knew I was going to marry my husband within two months of meeting him, and we were planning the wedding seven months after that.

7. I started running in January 2007 and actually ran a 5K that Memorial Day. My commitment has wavered since then and has been pretty nonexistent in 2008, but I really want to get back into it when I recover from delivery. It's something I never thought I could do, and it's pretty empowering to actually do it.

I'm not even sure if seven people will read this, so if you do, consider yourself tagged!

2008-05-20T19:08:00.002-04:00

I'm dying to make some of these with the random assortment of vintage & clearance-sale buttons in my life...damn you, Joann and Michaels, for closing your Antioch locations so I can't buy plastic canvas without committing to a 15-minute drive!

2008-05-19T12:16:00.000-04:00

Ladies and gentlemen, we have definite *baby wiggles*!

'Bout time.

2008-05-18T22:03:00.003-04:00

The 24-week MegaBUMP

At this rate, I'm getting a little concerned that he's going to be like his Uncle Matthew (i.e., 11 pounds...eep!)

Other stuff on my mind:

Cloth diapers: We're going with them for a variety of environmental and health reasons. I had no idea how many kinds were out there! I'm thinking about Green Acres Designs...if anyone out there has cloth diapering experience, please share your favorites!
Holycrapwe'removingin4weeks!: Packing has finally commenced and will hopefully continue at a suitably brisk yet manageable pace. Though we're packing ourselves, thanks be to God, the church is paying for movers. Starting to pay Savannah rent the first of the month and continuing to pay Nashville rent through the end of July, however, sucks.
Work: I've still got four more weeks, right up until the day before the movers load our stuff (not ideal scheduling, but so be it). My job has been an amazing experience, and I'm going to deeply miss a lot of things about it, but I'm looking forward to the "new" job. As my mom says, the pay isn't good, but the benefits are outstanding.
Baby names: This has been the major topic of conversation around here lately. We thought we had one just about picked up, but the first name turns out to be really high on the recent popularity rankings. We have a couple more promising options...will keep you posted when something is definite.
Childbirth options: I find using a midwife and a birthing center appealing. I need to try to get some dirt on the birthing center in (well, just outside) Savannah before I make a choice. Another thing I'm trying to discern about is drugs (and what kind) versus natural...no epidurals at said birthing center, so the two decisions kind of go together.

2008-05-08T23:17:00.003-04:00

I'm hopeful that once we get moved & I'm an official housewife/SAHM-in-training, I'll blog more regularly. In the meantime, here's where I'll do said blogging from starting June 18:

It's on the highest end of the price range we were shooting for, but I think we're going to really dig it. It's 5 minutes outside the historic district in a quiet, modest but tidy little neighborhood. Best of all, it's a house. There will be multiple walls, fences, and yard between us and other people. You have no idea how happy this makes us. It has 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, an office, decently big living & dining rooms, the biggest kitchen (with the greenest countertops) I've ever had, an attic, and a big screen porch. Plus, we get this view in our backyard:

That's the marsh - we're maybe a quarter mile from the intercoastal waterway. This also happens to be the west, so we get sunsets from our back porch. Fabulous. Y'all come visit.

Unrelated, lately I feel like a stomach with a mouth and feet (how Tori-ish). My baby bump and accompanying appetite are growing quite exponentially.

2008-04-19T19:45:00.000-04:00

Here's Junior!

2008-04-18T17:34:00.000-04:00

It's a BOY!

Photos forthcoming...

2008-04-17T16:26:00.002-04:00

The big U is tomorrow! Woot, woot!

In other news, many prayers were said around my dad's job interview in Savannah this morning because really, how cool would that be?

2008-04-11T14:47:00.002-04:00

Protect breastfeeding!

If you want Congress to pass legislation to protect the legal rights of mothers to nurture their babies without shame or discrimination, please tell your representatives.

2008-04-10T20:39:00.002-04:00

My hump my hump, my lovely baby bump...

We're at personal pronoun T-8 days!

2008-04-07T21:36:00.006-04:00

I got back from the TESOL convention in New York last night. Aside from losing my backpack on the subway, it was a fabulous if exhausting time. And look who I got to catch up with after nearly 5 freaking years!

In other news - pretty big news, actually - it's about 95% certain that we're moving not to Albany, but to Savannah. This was a big surprise, but not an unwelcome one. Aside from the lesser proximity to family, I think it's about as good a place as we could ask to move in south GA. Next stop...finding a place to live.

2008-04-02T08:07:00.002-04:00

I'm a bad blogger. I know.

Latest headlines in the Tracy household:

20-week ultrasound & baby gender knowledge on April 18
News about Alex's appointment any time
I'm leaving this morning for the TESOL convention in NYC! And I'm going to hang out with Brooke! w00t!

2008-03-24T14:50:00.003-04:00

The mother of all baby quilts

I spent Easter weekend with Alex, my parents, & my brother. See below for proof of my mom's wicked mad skillz - it's a work in progress. She started this 3 days after I found out I'm pregnant.

Those aren't pre-printed...she appliqued each one. Wow.

2008-03-13T21:31:00.003-04:00

Make Mine Chocolate

If you or anyone you know is considering a gift of a rabbit for a child this Easter, please think very carefully first. Rabbits are wonderful companion animals. They are also a serious responsibility. The baby bunnies in the pet store will get much bigger. They need ample space, a varied diet, daily interaction, and regular veterinary care. Thousands of rabbits are abandoned in the months after Easter, adding to the year-round problem of overpopulation.

If you do feel ready to commit to having one of these wonderful animals in your home, please do some research first and contact your nearest House Rabbit Society chapter about adopting a rabbit who is waiting for a "forever home".

2008-03-13T21:25:00.003-04:00

Baby update

I had my second doctor's visit yesterday. We heard the heartbeat & all looks well. My 20-week ultrasound is Friday, April 18 (as indicated by the huge red circle on the calendar.) We will love and treasure whatever God's chosen for us, but just in case it helps...think pink!

I'm feeling pretty good these days. My energy level and my digestive system are back to normal. My only pregnancy symptom these days is nasty acne, but if that's all I have to complain about, I'll count myself blessed.

Speaking of God, we're hopeful that we'll hear something soon about Alex's appointment. At that point I'll start picking the brains of you homeowners out there as that becomes our other all-consuming interest.

2008-03-10T21:12:00.000-04:00

Hi, world. Not much going on. Just...hi.

2008-03-04T19:51:00.002-05:00

I hooped after I finished working today. Due to lack of space in our apartment and my lack of desire to break stuff, I move a table and hoop in the reading lab after the students leave. Thankfully, I haven't been exhausted by the end of the afternoon for the last few days. There's one move that I struggled with when we learned it in class Saturday, and now when I try it, even super-slowed down, it seems like an impossibility of physics. It also wrenches my shoulder.

A serendipitous discovery: "Enter Sandman" is really excellent to hoop to.

2008-03-03T22:49:00.002-05:00

Alex was deferred for ordination.

It's a long story & I don't want to talk about it anymore today. Suffice it to say that there's a lot of anger & disappointment going around.

Fortunately this doesn't affect his ability to be appointed to a church, and two particular churches are very interested in him. Hopefully we'll know where we're going sooner than we thought.

2008-03-01T12:05:00.002-05:00

I feel really good after going to hoop class, and I'll feel (and smell) even better after a shower.

Alex is on his way to GA for ordination interviews on Monday, so I'm pondering what to do with myself for the rest of the day. I have a bit of work stuff I brought home to get ready for new classes starting Monday. I should also do a bit of cleaning. But first, maybe I'll go to the museum and wander. Or the mall. Museum's probably cheaper.

2008-02-26T09:16:00.005-05:00

OK, here's the plan.

June:
-We move to south GA (maybe Albany?) after four years in Nashville.
-Alex transitions from being a full time student (which he's been basically forever) to a full time associate pastor.
-I transition from being a full time ESL teacher (almost four years is a definite job longevity record for me) to being a housewife/SAHM-in-training.

August:
-I turn 30. wtf?
-Our marriage hits the five year mark. Are we supposed to get the tires rotated?

September:
-The baby transitions from being an abstract concept that makes me tired and gassy to a genuine, out-of-the-womb, in-our-face baby. (Granted, I'm sure it'll become less of an abstract concept when I have a huge belly and it kicks, but I'm going with what it feels like at this moment [12 weeks].)

Yeah, we just thought we'd get all the life changes out of the way at once.

2008-02-18T21:36:00.002-05:00

Updates

Benjamin is doing so much better! The (new) vet suggested treating first for an inner ear infection, which could cause the head tilt and eye scanning and has the infinite advantage of being treatable. After a few days of antibiotics, his head is upright, the eyes are steady, his appetite is back, and he generally acts much more energetic. Thank God for banana-flavored liquid Baytril.

In other Tracy family news, Alex is preparing to go before the South Georgia Annual Conference of the UMC for his ordination interviews in a couple of weeks. Whether he gets ordained or not, he'll be taking a church appointment & we'll be moving in June, but getting over this hurdle will mean a lot to him.

As for me, I've been pooped today. Apparently my body will be done constructing the placenta soon & I should get my energy back. This week, baby is around 2 inches long (!!!) and is developing hair follicles, nail beds, and sex organs.

I leave you with a sight I just beheld to my immediate left. When she's very relaxed, Maggie flops on her side and grooms her front paws in a way that reminds me of a girl stretched out on her bed & doing her nails. I'd reach over and rub her fuzzy white belly (Maggie's, not the hypothetical manicure girl), but she would never forgive me.

2008-02-14T21:31:00.004-05:00

So, there he/she is!

We actually found out from a home pregnancy test on January 1 (which Alex insists I can throw away now that we have pictures!) We decided to keep it on the low-down for a while since it was so early, though immediate families (who didn't know we were trying) got phone calls right away. Now that I've had my first appointment & know that all is well, we're going public (which is a euphemism for shouting it from the rooftops!)

I'm at 10 weeks 4 days according to the ultrasound, and baby Tracy is due September 8. I've been super-lucky in terms of not having morning sickness or other extreme symptoms. I'm tired sometimes, I get indigestion easily, I have some moodiness, my boobs hurt, and I'm breaking out more than usual. All things considered, though, it ain't bad. :)

Oh, and we swear it was dancing on the ultrasound.

2008-02-14T19:43:00.003-05:00

After a very good first doctor's visit, Alex and I are ready to go public.

I'm PREGNANT!!!

Ultrasound photo to follow after dinner. :)

2008-02-13T17:11:00.004-05:00

Sick bun :(

We think that Benji has E cuniculi, which is a parasite that affects the neurological system. His hind legs seem to just stop working periodically, and then a few minutes later, he hops around like his normal self. That started Saturday, and he spent the day at the vet Monday for observation. Now he keeps holding his head turned to the left - not tilted, just turned - and his eyes move back and forth as though he's reading a teleprompter. Again, it happens for a minute or two, and then he acts normally again. It's hard to diagnose and hard to treat, but we've left a message for the vet asking for some medication to try, even if she' s not sure it will work.

I'm worried about our little guy, and we would appreciate prayers.

2008-02-13T12:41:00.001-05:00

Snow day: It's a beautiful thing.

2008-02-11T21:03:00.000-05:00

Testing, 1, 2...

I'm starting a little late on my resolution to blog, but it's been an interesting year so far. The things most on my mind are a little private at the moment. Nothing to worry about...all shall be revealed soon. ;)

2002-03-21T17:57:00.000-05:00

I moved!

2002-03-21T11:25:00.000-05:00

Everyone send some good karma towards Suzanne as she makes the confident move of getting her hair cut off. It's going to be so cute & I can't wait to see it!

I'm going to learn about the Avon Breast Cancer 3-Day tonight. It's something I really wanted to do last year for a variety of reasons, but then I got this job and it came witht his thing called Hands On Atlanta Day that falls the same weekend. Grad school or not, I don't plan to still be here in October 2002. Speaking of grad school, I signed up for the GRE yesterday. So send me some good karma after Suzy's haircut, and keep sending it until April 18!

2002-03-20T11:48:00.000-05:00

I think I'm going to have a cookout/potluck/somesuch next Thursday. I like having space to entertain. Of course, this will require that I obtain a grill. Oh well; I want one anyway. I am not very well-versed in grill usage, but I'll fall off that bridge when I come to it. I've been wanting a picnic table too. Looks like I'll need a trip to K-Mart or Target this weekend.

2002-03-19T10:58:00.000-05:00

We won $25 house cash at team trivia last night. I'd like to shout out Justin for his depth of otherwise useless knowledge about the height of various structures.

Nothing else to report....same giddiness as yesterday. I'm going to play ultimate frisbee Wednesday, despite the fact that I've made it known that I can't throw a frisbee straight to save my life. Oh well, who cares. :)

2002-03-18T15:46:00.000-05:00

I just e-dismissed Todd. That was hard, even though I don't have feelings for him, just because I have difficulty doing anything that could be perceived as "mean." I don't have a very well-developed inner bitch. Oh yeah, I never reported on that date #2....he's all into me, I feel no chemistry, he kissed me goodnight, blah blah blah....anyway.

Back to those happy thoughts I've been having all day....*contented sigh*

2002-03-18T14:31:00.000-05:00

Date #2 w/ Alex last night. Wow. Wow, wow, wow.

Wow.

2002-03-13T10:51:00.000-05:00

Din ding ding...we may have a winner: bachelor #4!

Really wonderful date last night. Did you know that they do karaoke at Innovox? Me neither. Any guy who will let me talk him into doing karaoke is good enough for me. :) Well, not just any guy. But definitely this one. He's as fun in person as he is online (it's easy to overbuild your expectations of someone based on their personality over e-mail), and very sweet & gentemanly. And cute. And we both had a lot of fun & plan to see each other again Sunday.

Is it Sunday yet?

2002-03-12T14:47:00.000-05:00

I had my performance review today. Not scary, pretty much heard what I already knew as far as what areas I'm doing well in and which need improvement. Since making the decision yesterday to apply for grad school, it's hard to focus on or care much about how to be better at my job. I don't want to burn bridges or anything, but it's hard to be motivated. If I don't get into Georgia State, I'll probably shift into job search mode. Must call tomorrow about GRE. That's the next thing on my to-do list. That and call Ms. Martin, Dr. Gaspar & Dr. Blakley for recommendations.

I went to get the new Indigo Girls cd over lunch. It's wonderful. Everyone go buy it! Also waiting for them to post the lineup for Music Midtown; it's suppoed to be up today. I want to sign up to volunteer again. Free entertainment is a Good Thing.

2002-03-11T17:46:00.000-05:00

I'm over this job. I suddenly feel reeeeally motivated to study for the GRE.

2002-03-11T16:34:00.000-05:00

Life Update: I'm applying to grad school. Hopefully I can get in to start in June. Now I just need to get recommendations, write a personal statement, figure out my finances....and oh yeah, take the GRE. Buh-bye, real job. I'm so not motivated to be here.

And for those of you keeping score at home, Scott fell under the "nice guy, but....no" catergory, I'm meeting Alex for coffee tomorrow night, and I'm having dinner with Todd Thursday.

And hey, Suzy, I like your new blog!

2002-03-08T14:40:00.000-05:00

So after the whole Matt debacle, I thought, "screw this, I'm going to post my own ad and answer more ads and just meet people and have fun!" And that's exactly what I'm doing here lately. Last night I had drinks with Todd (27, environmental engineer). Tomorrow I have lunch with Scott (26, something governmental and nuclear-related). And I'm in the midst of scheduling coffee or somesuch next week with Alex (23, theology student). This could be fun! I feel like I click particularly well with Alex over e-mail, but I'm not putting all my eggs in one proverbial basket. If I meet someone and it becomes serious, great, but I'm not making that an immediate goal. It's all about not expecting too much.

2002-03-06T12:54:00.000-05:00

Into love and out again,
Thus I went and thus I go.
Spare your voice, and hold your pen:
Well and bitterly I know
All the songs were ever sung,
All the words were ever said;
Could it be, when I was young,
Someone dropped me on my head?
-Dorothy Parker

2002-03-01T10:59:00.000-05:00

So you know how you sometimes have random revelations while you're in the shower or something? I had one of those Wednesday night. I'm a people-oriented person in a computer-oriented job. I like to help people, which I suppose I do in a round-about way, but I like to help people directly. It's what makes me happy and fulfilled. But most of my job functions involve sitting at the computer. This, I think, has a lot to do with my job dissatisfaction. I'm not sure what I should be doing instead of this, but realizing why what I'm doing doesn't work for me is a big step. Any objective thoughts on Kelly's next career move would be happily received. :)

2002-02-28T13:55:00.000-05:00

Shameless plug for my roommate's dance company...
Duende Dance Theater will present Set to Rise on March 8 and 9 (next weekend)! Performances are at 8:00 p.m. On Saturday, there is a party following the performance. There will be free Flamenco lessons at the party. Come eat, drink, and celebrate with Duende. The party is $15 and the performances are $15 as well. If you have kids, bring them to the Sat., March 9 performance at noon. This is a special performance for children and tix are only $10 for this show. Call 404-377-2534 for tix.

2002-02-26T22:18:00.000-05:00

My laptop is kaput. I'm very displeased. Must find my warranty info, and whether I'm under warranty or not, figure out where to take a kaput computer. The place where you plug the AC cord into the computer is screwed up.

2002-02-26T17:26:00.000-05:00

Oh yeah, I promised a Spaghetti Factory review. OK food, really really cool decor. Go for the atmosphere.

I think everyone who actually reads this thing already knows by now that Friday was a non-date. Whatever. I'm on to the next option. I posted my own ad on Match.com, with good results so far. One particularly interesting prospect thus far. But...not going to put all my proverbial eggs in one virtual basket. Or something like that.

Everyone should go see Brooke's dance company next weekend. It will be a Good Thing. I don't have all the details in my head, but I'll get them & send out an e-amil.

2002-02-21T12:54:00.000-05:00

Taking tomorrow off....gotta use that last vacation day before it expires! I like this 3-day work week. I think I'd have a better work-life balance if every week was like this. Shopping w/ Mom then going home to make myself pretty for dinner. I've never been to the Spaghetti Factory, but apparently there are tables in a train car and that is the place to sit. Will post a review. :)

2002-02-17T21:14:00.000-05:00

Dinner with Matt this Friday! *That* took long enough....

2002-02-12T16:59:00.000-05:00

I'm feeling some serious work blahs lately. Very overwhelmed. Not feeling the love for the job as much these days.

Feeling some...well, something for the boy. The suggestion has been made that if he isn't going to quit sweet-talking me and start asking me out, I need to move on. I'm not closed to other opportunities, I pointed out in response; I just don't get a lot of opportunities. But I do agree that I should ever-so-gently let him know that if we're going somewhere, it needs to move beyond the computer. He makes my heart flutter & all, but still.

In other news...Happy Mardi Gras & Happy Chinese New Year! All the other Horses out there, it's our year, so it should be extra-lucky. Eat something sweet & wear red & put tangerines around your house. And drink. And I don't know what you should do to celebrate Lincoln's birthday; go read "When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloomed" or something.

2002-02-10T22:37:00.000-05:00

So guess who I just chatted with? Yup. Matt. He's apparently been in a crazy work-a-holic mode & was very apologetic about not having been in touch. Of course, I was like "it's cool", not letting him know what a spaz he made me into for a while. And you know what? I'm happy about talking to him and all, but I'm not turning cartwheels and assuming life will now be perfect. I'm not attaching my life's happiness to him. This is a Good Thing. I am a Strong Independant Woman. As Ally McBeal once said..."I don't *need* a man. I *want* one."

Busy busy weekend....ate lots, shopped lots, saw the family. It was good, but I'm pooped. And I need to go in early since I didn't make it to the office at any point this weekend. Still catching up from vacation.

2002-02-10T00:43:00.000-05:00

I'm better now, thanks in part to Steph for getting me to go out last night instead of wallowing in self-pity. Also had a fun, full day today. Nice weather helps. Anyway, yeah, hooray for singlehood!

2002-02-07T20:59:00.000-05:00

Men suck.

With the possible exception of Brad Pitt.

But the rest of them suck.

2002-02-05T16:04:00.000-05:00

"Wherever You Will Go" is my new favorite song on the radio, even though The Calling sounds just like Lifehouse. I'm just a sucker for gravelly-voiced guys singing power ballads. They make me pine.

Yup, Kelly's life is badly in need of some romance.

My, I'm the active little blogger today...

2002-02-05T13:28:00.000-05:00

Hey, single ladies....go check out Justin. He's a nice guy. E-mail him.

2002-02-05T11:05:00.000-05:00

I saw howler monkeys at the aquarium in Dallas. Those are the freakiest things ever. They sound like they're belching through megaphones. Suzanne, you would have been so amused. I also saw penguins. It was almost more excitement than I could handle.

2002-01-28T17:27:00.000-05:00

Bad things about today:
1. Astrid Lindgren died.
2. They're changing our health insurance and I have to find *another* new gyno.
3. I have a huge zit on the side of my nose.
4. Everyone else keeps trying to do my job, damn it! (And they're not very good at it.)

Good things about today:
1. The weather is beeeee-yooo-tiful!
2. I'm going to the gym tonight.
3. I'm eating my yummy mahi-mahi leftovers from last night first.
4. I will probably have a very lovely chat session tonight. Such is the pattern lately.
5. Only two more days & then vacation! Woo!

More good than bad. I feel better now.

2002-01-28T09:24:00.000-05:00

He writes poetry. Old-fashioned love poetry. That's it; I'm smitten.

2002-01-27T17:41:00.000-05:00

So I just got back from meeting Matt, the guy I've been chatting with. It was really nice; we talked, laughed. He's even cuter in person. :) We're going to hang out again sometime soon. And he smells nice.

2002-01-23T10:36:00.000-05:00

So I chatted for an hour & a half last night with that guy. We seem to have a similar sense of humor; he cracks me up. (I'm telling you, ladies, if you learn to love "Airplane!", you score points with the guys!) He teaches high school English, which I think is very cool, and he just bought a house, which shows a certain comfort level with commitment. Not that I'm trying to get ahead of myself here. Anyway, we'll see where this goes. I'd really like to meet him. It's easier to be a witty conversationalist online than in person. And yes, meet in public, don't give too much personal info, yadda yadda...don't worry; I'll be safe & stuff. :)

2002-01-22T14:58:00.000-05:00

So I bit the proverbial bullet and decided to give online personal ads a try. I'm not quite gutsy enough to post an ad, so I answered a couple that sounded like my speed last night. One's already responded & we'll hopefully be chatting tonight. Here goes nothing!

2002-01-21T19:00:00.000-05:00

This is the most ridiculously easy & yummy recipe: Beer Bread! 2 2/3 c. self rising flour, 12 oz. beer. Mix it up until it's moist, bake in a loaf pan at 375 degrees for 50-55 minutes. Tastes nothing like beer, I promise. Yummy with blackberry preserves.

This edition of Ghetto Martha Stewart was brought to you by the letter W & P and the number 7.

2002-01-13T12:22:00.000-05:00

Thanks to all who came last night -- it was a great party! Though as Brooke points out, we hang out with a cocktail crowd & don't need to buy more beer next time. If anyone wants a brewski, come on over. We have lots. We also have lots of red wine. I think I'm going to make a bathtub o' sangria. :)

2002-01-10T15:58:00.000-05:00

Excited about the party Saturday. Not so excited about the mad cleaning that must precede it. Suzanne gave it a great plug on the Phi Mu message board. I look forward to seeing her because she amuses me so. Of course, she'll probably have had more sleep.

I got a package from my mom today containing a package from one of my Japanese friends, Hiroe, that had come to my parents' house. She sent me a Xmas card, Japanese candy & a teddy bear key chain. I was most pleased. I love getting letters/e-mails from people whose native language is not English. The phrasing makes me smile. Mom also sent fleece scarves for me & Brooke. She's on a fleece kick, apparently.

I'm at a point where I'm trying to figure out what the next step should be in my life. I'm in a lease for a year, and I really don't want to deal with moving again any time soon. Twice within a year is plenty for now. Not that I think I'll stay in Atlanta forever. I've toyed with taking some classes and expanding my skills in graphic design, but after this week's horrors (file screwed up, have to do twice as much work in half the time to get caught back up), I don't know. Not sure I want to stare at a computer all my life. I'm also toying with going to grad school, maybe to study applied linguistics/ESL. I need to do some volunteering in this area & see how it goes. I wanted to go to a training this Saturday, but I don't know if I'll have time, and I'll be in Texas during the next one.

OK, ramble over. As you were.

2002-01-04T10:24:00.000-05:00

Thanks for all the support....I have wonderful friends.

2002-01-02T20:43:00.000-05:00

Paca's gone. She was staying at Steph's b/c my landlord was going to come by the look at our dysfunctional oven. I went to pick Paca up, and as I was walking to my car, the cage fell off of it top (it wasn't completly secured), and she flew off and around a building. Stephanie (who is a wonderful friend) and I spent 2 hours walking around her complex, along the street, and around the shopping center across the street, whistling and calling her. I left the cage open on Steph's porch, put a sign up, and am calling the leasing office tomorrow. Best case scenario, she flew to someone's porch to get out of the snow, made some noise, and they let her in. I'm trying not to think about the worst case scenario. Slighly better than worse case scenario, a cat got her or something so that she can at least go quickly. I'm feeling like the worst pet owner ever b/c the cage top should have been on better, or at least I shouldn't have been carrying it by the handle, and Paca's wings should have been clipped (I'd been meaing to have that done soon. The road to hell & so forth...)

2002-01-02T15:58:00.000-05:00

It's been snowing all day! Woo hoo! And we might not have to come in tomorrow if the roads ice...I have to call & find out when I wake up tomorrow. Here's hoping that I can roll over and go back to sleep. And then take one of my many empty boxes and go sledding on the golf course!

2001-12-31T12:22:00.000-05:00

I just turned in my keys/swipe card/remote to the Post Valley office. I am no longer a Smyrnian. (Hee hee, sounds like I used to live in some obscure Middle Eastern country.) I'm so glad to be done with the move and settling into the new place. Big thanks & hugs to Mom, Dad, Matthew, Justin & Daniel for their invaluable assistance Saturday. A note about trucks: if you have as much stuff as I do, you cannot move in a 10' truck. Save yourself a trip back to the Ryder place and get the 15' to start with. And don't buy huge couches. They're a pain in the ass to move, though Matthew is getting really good at taking doors off their hinges. This is a skill that will surely serve him well in life. Anyway, Paca & I are very happy in our new home. Brooke's happy too, but she & Scott went to Mississippi for the week so he can meet her parents.

If you haven't been here yet, you should visit soon. You can sit on the wall around the front porch and heckle the golfers across the street (not that I've tried yet.) Or, since it's really cold out there, you can sit in front of the fireplace, and I'll even make you a nice cup of hot chocolate. Or I'll mix you a drink with Brooke's copious supply of liquor, and then maybe you'll be up for golfer-heckling.

2001-12-28T19:34:00.000-05:00

Packing sucks. Lots. But being almost done sucks less. I had a nice dinner break, but that means I have to go into overdrive to get done & get a reasonable night's sleep. Many fabulous people are helping me move, so many that I had to start turning away assistance. I shout them all out. :)

2001-12-21T15:17:00.000-05:00

...but I'm going to have digital cable w/ HBO & Showtime shortly! Woo!

2001-12-21T15:14:00.000-05:00

This...afternoon...is...passing...very...slowly...

2001-12-21T11:14:00.000-05:00

Last day of work until January 2, and I couldn't be happier to leave this afternoon. :) Much insanity and drama surrounding various work projects, and it makes my head hurt. I'm going to Florida w/ my parents & brother to see my grandparents, and then coming back to Atlanta the 27th to finish packing & move. As hellish as moving is, I prefer it over work at this moment.

2001-12-07T12:46:00.000-05:00

Party was OK. We just sort of stood around eating and snickering at the occasional drunk white person trying to dance. We didn't know many people there, and the music was really loud, so mingling was not a viable option. Not that I'm the best mingler. How I made it through 3 Rushes is beyond me. I went to Shannon's to get ready, and was strangely unaffected by the presence of her cat, Spencer. So he joins Smokey in the ranks of Cats To Which Kelly Is Not Quite So Allergic. Sorry, Ya-ji.

2001-12-06T11:49:00.000-05:00

OK, I'll be taping Charlie Brown. I found out yesterday (whoops!) that our ad agency's Xmas party is tonight. It's apparently a somewhat swank affair w/ great food & drink. I'm wearing the leopard dress that I wore to multiple dances in college (it still fits, woo-hoo!) Until a better offer comes along, I'll probably spend Friday night packing and/or making Xmas treats.

2001-12-03T11:31:00.000-05:00

"A Charlie Brown Christmas" is on Thursday night -- woo! It's my favorite holiday special. Anybody want to come over for cookies & hot chocolate & Charlie Brown?

2001-11-27T16:05:00.000-05:00

I'm feeling sluggish. But we have Christmas lights strung about the office, which is fun. They're all on the wall behind me, which means I have to turn around to be visually stimulated. I cooked salmon last night, and it was very tasty, especially taking into account that I've never cooked fish before. I think I'm going to make tortellini tonight. And maybe even work out. Going to Central City for trivia tomorrow night.

Oh, I should edit that post about the duplex....we move in a month, not a week. D'oh! Like anyone's actually reading this who hasn't heard about it in person from me already.

We used to have the most random lights on the Xmas tree when I was little. They were all multicolored, but some strings blinked and some didn't, and some sort of looked like little flowers and some didn't. They were kind of ghetto, now that I think about it.

Have yourself a ghetto little Christmas....

2001-11-26T16:02:00.000-05:00

Yay, my director's going to have a little boy!

2001-11-26T15:22:00.000-05:00

Swear I posted this weekend....maybe I just had a dream about posting. Anyway, Brooke & I signed our lease yesterday for the wonder-duplex, which we love even more than the apartment we almost got. It's bigbigbig and has hardwood floors & a fireplace. It's on Northside, across from the golf course & tennis center, right near Collier. We move in a month from tomorrow -- oh, joy!

In other news, I'm president of the Bitter Singles of Atlanta. I get to be president b/c I'm bitchy and I said so. If anyone is interested in joining our ranks, contact me. Same if you want to open a chapter in your hometown. We're expanding to Boston. Bitter Singles, unite!

2001-11-20T13:51:00.000-05:00

I went to Colonial Homes over lunch, and I am so in love with it! ***Swoon*** If Brooke feels the same way, maybe we can just put down a deposit tomorrow. Woo!

2001-11-20T09:15:00.000-05:00

Brooke & I are looking at two duplexes and maybe an apt. complex this evening. The duplexes are both in the Northside/Collier area, which is really nice & close to work, so I hope we find something good that can wait a month for us to move in. We may also look at Colonial Homes, which is on P'tree. I'm going to look at Morningside Chase on Monroe at lunch today. Oh, the madness!

I was on the computer last night, paying bills & have a couple of different IM conversations, when I got a IM from Matt. Random! But it was fun to electronically flirt while I drank my glass of Boone's wine. I definitly got my $3 worth out of that bottle.

2001-11-07T16:41:00.000-05:00

I've not been posting much lately, but there's not much interesting going on. Work work work. I watched "24" last night, and it was really good. Brenda & I are going to start walking twice a week during lunch - go us! I'm going home this weekend, which will be nice. No news on the romance front. Whatever.

2001-11-05T13:42:00.000-05:00

Some things that are kinda cool:
1) I was a model this weekend. I got paid in mahi mahi.
2) I'm a brunette now. (unrelated to modeling; just ready for a change)
3) I think I'm going to move to Asheville. Not today or tomorrow. But someday.

2001-10-31T17:36:00.000-05:00

No male companionship tonight. ***Pout***

2001-10-31T12:08:00.000-05:00

Hooray for airlines practically paying people to fly! I'm going to Dallas Jan. 31-Feb. 4 to see my little, and I'm paying $74 for the whole thing, including taxes. Woo! It'a almost lunchtime, but I'm still digesting birthday cake. Wish people would get their corrections on the newsletter back to me so I can finish it up & call the juggling salesman to come pick it up. And talk about potential plans tonight.

2001-10-30T16:54:00.000-05:00

So I maybe bringing a guest to the Masquerade tomorrow. And said potential guest has my cell # now. At said guest's request. Fingers crossed!

2001-10-25T13:07:00.000-04:00

I worked out last night for the first time in quite a while. I danced around to Q100 & did some crunches, squats & push-ups (off the bar, not the ground.) I forgot how muscles I am normally unaware exist hurt when I do push-ups, especially after not doing them for so long. Also did my roots last night...no bad roots for Suzy's photo shoot. That wouldn't be so chic.

2001-10-23T16:50:00.000-04:00

There's a paper doll picture of me featured on my main page now. Thanks to Suzy for the link. Looking at it just now, my main page sucks, aside from the cute picture of me & the penguin. Must work on that.