To Fulfill a Dream

One of the things on my "Life's To Do List" is to sing the National Anthem at a Mariner's game. I realize that this dream is a bit unrealistic, because the M's often have opera singers (great voices, but c'mon . . . it's not very 'baseball') or different professional groups. And while I may be good, I'm just not quite that good.

So today I heard that the Everett AquaSox (the M's single A team in the area) are holding auditions for the National Anthem on May 17 at the Everett Mall. They call it "AquaSox Idol". I went right to their web page to find out more informaion.

Participants have to preregister, so as to get a spot to audition. The form was on-line, and I sent in my registration. And just moments ago, I heard back from the good folks in the AquaSox organization. I got my registration in on time - I WILL BE AUDITIONING!

I'm very excited!!!! I'll keep you posted on the whole experience. Now let's hope that I'm not in labor on that day between 1 and 2 pm.

By way of a side note, Doug and I had our first date at an AquaSox game, and are already planning on attending 7 games this summer (they have a nice little promotional ticket plan we are taking advantage of).

Mine Sweeper

One of the great things about the computer game Mine Sweeper (MS), is that you can have your game interrupted, but you can return to it and continue playing without really having to worry about "now, where was I and what strategy was I using?" I think that Free Cell falls into the category of needing some sort of sustained concentration, which is not ideal when you keep getting interrupted.

Which is to say, I've been playing a bit of MS while my students have been working on their assignments. I'm available for questions, but am keeping myself 'busy' in the mean-time. I should actually be working on cleaning my room, filing papers, etc. But the less time I spend on my feet these days, the better!

I enjoy playing the 'expert' level, where one is trying to clear out 99 mines. I usually just start out by doing a bunch of random clicks until a reasonable space opens up, and then I start clearing away.

What annoys me about the game, though, is that sometimes I just have to guess as to where the mine would be. Is it in Spot A or Spot B? Could be either, and no amount of logic will find the answer. Having a game killed because I'm forced into a 50-50 guess is annoying.

I'm lucky if in a given day I actually clear all the mines and win. A part of that is due to the 50-50 guess. Part of that is due to just moving too fast and not actually clearing the mines that I'm supposed to.

It seems I'm spending too much time and thought on this. But it is such a lovely, quick and easy game!

Random Duck Fact

Here's what I just learned from one of my students, via a Snapple fun fact.

A duck's "quack" doesn't echo.

I love learning new things!

Random Duck Fact

Here's what I just learned from one of my students, via a Snapple fun fact.

A duck's "quack" doesn't echo.

I love learning new things!

Sewing Help

Yesterday I was working on a quilt for our baby. Cutting fabric, using the sewing maching, etc. Tigger REALLY wanted my attention through the whole process. I tried telling her that if she sat within arms reach, but generally not on top of what I was working on, I'd keep petting her.

She'd sit on the fabric. She'd walk in between me and the sewing maching as I was sewing. Generally cute and annoying at the same time.

The fabric Tigger is sitting on here is not from the quilt, but from some burp cloths I was working on. She's giving the "Pet me, don't move me" look!

Cat tested and approved

Of all the baby things around the house (swing, carseat, crib, changing table, cradle), the bouncy seat wins the cat approval. Tinker has taken a liking to it! And I can hardly believe that between the other three cats and the above mentioned new things in the house, it's the only thing that has been 'cat-i-fied'.

Nursery all ready (perhaps!)

The nursery is pretty much all together. Except that the baby isn't here yet. Over the weekend, Doug and I went to Babies R Us. Probably the first and last time he will go there. I tried to warn him!

While we were there, shopping off of 3 registries (no kiddin'), we picked up the bedding for the crib.

A look at the quilt tacked up to the wall.

A "far" view of the crib.

A closer view of the crib.

Also of note in the room, the walls are all painted.

A little taste of heaven

Today it was very difficult to get out of bed. It's Friday. Our spring break begins next week, which makes it quite possibly the last school in the whole United States to have spring break. And while I had a blast at the baby shower yesterday, all that it entailed and getting home at 7pm was clearly a little bit too much for me to do.

So as I was getting around in sloooooooow mooootion today, I felt like a semi-truck (as I am feeling large these days) that had some sort of sludge build-up in the engine, causing it to only operate in 1st gear. And with lots of dead bugs splattered on the windshield.

I arrive at school, to find out that our principal ordered a portable latte cart to serve the faculty and staff this morning.

Now, with pregnancy, it's advised that you limit caffeine intake. I've been having 1-2 diet colas a week, but have completely eliminated coffee, basically because I'm an addict. It's a slippery slope from one 'normal' cup of coffee (6-8 oz), which would be acceptable, to 4+ 'normal' cups a day. I know I have very little self-control in this area, so it's been all or nothing.

Except for today. I figure that since the cart is only here this morning, the temptation is very limited. A single 8 oz. vanilla latte, please.

Oh, so tasty. I love this nectar of the gods. Drank every last foamy drop, savoring the coffee-flavored goodness it contained.

And now I think the semi-truck might make it into at least 3rd gear!

April Showers

Yesterday my coworkers hosted a most wonderful baby shower. We were at my friend Katie's house. Fiesta platers from Azteca. Strawberry margaritas (non-tequila ones were available!) Lots of love and laughter.

Among the great and wonderful presents, the one below was probably the most unique. And the most enjoyed by Doug, though the Mariner sippy cups placed a close second.
Okay, since I can only get a small image copied into the blog, here is the interpretation. A sheep saying, "Baaa", plus a rock. The green text says, "Barack Obama 2008".

The support of this presidential candidate is high in our household. So much so that Doug is an alternate state delegate, with the possibility of going to the National Democratic Convention in Denver this August. But it's just also funny to have such a onesie. And if you are looking for other fun and silly t-shirt type things (not just political), check out www.cafepress.com.

By the way, did you know that the phrase "onesie" has been copyrighted by Gerber (I think), as on their packages it say that the onesie is celebrating 25 years. Though we all know they've been around longer than that! I probably owe Gerber money just by writing about the onesie in this blog.

Baby Names

Doug and I are still working on figure out baby names. We have a first name for a girl, and a middle name for a boy (and, no, we're not telling!).

I thought it'd be a fun exercise to have the last question on today's calculus test be "Optional: What should Mrs. Brouillard name her baby?" Below are the results from first period.

Girl: Maria, Sylvia, Sawyer, Kate, Olivia, Jordyn, Corey, Grace, Elizabeth (x2), Cecelia, Emma, Krista, Beth, Michelle, Rebecca, Kelsy, Isabelle Marie, Elizabeth Rose

Boy: Hayden, Carson, Easton, Eli, Cartaer, Gareth, Jeremy, Jesse, Jayce, Jay, Jonathan, Nathan, Sean, David, William, Roy, Jackson Taylor

One student wrote this essay. Since I am just this kind of girl, I have already picked out the names of my three kids: Christopher Adam, Nicholas Jason, Gabriella Isabel (In that order, if possible.) Feel free to use a combo of any of those and/ or these are other names I like in general:
Girls- Savannah, Sienna, Ashley, Angela, Theresa, Claire
Boys- Anthony, Preston, Sean, Zachary, Thomas, Andrew

Other student essay: Never let your child's name be confused with anyone else's! Uniqueness all the way. Boys - Alphonse, Theodore, Bruce, Hans. Girls - Betsy, Betty, Sylvia, Helen

My personal favorite of the day, though, was the following: Boy- Jezus, Girl - Hello Kitty.

Toes to Nose

Last night.
4am.

Owwwie, owwwie, owwwie, owwwie, owwwie, owwwie.

Yep. My first leg cramp of pregnancy. I remembered from some distant part of my brain that when you get a muscle cramp (though this advice may have been for a foot cramp), you should flex your toes toward your nose.

I figure some one came up with that little rhyme, because when you are jerked out of sleep, real thought is far, far away.

So, I pointed my toes toward my nose. It helped (mostly). But I still have residual pain in my upper calf (almost at my knee).

Just one more of the joys of being a human incubator!