Month: December 2008

Categories
movies

Movie Theater Etiquette

I went to the movies to see “Marley and Me” with Grandma and Mom today. I haven’t been to a theater since I saw “Ratatouille” with Nathan and Sean a looong time ago. We usally rent movies and watch them in the comfort and quietness of our own home. Going to the movies today reminded me that it really is nicer to watch movies at home. Why are there always THOSE people (you know who you are!) who feel the need to offer their opinion on scenes throughout the movie??? There’s really no need to say OUT LOUD, “that was really funny!” when we’ve all already had a good laugh and it’s on to the next scene. And for those who have seen a movie before already, you don’t need to offer your viewing partner the “You gotta watch this!” advice at the better parts of a movie… It kinda spoils the surprise, and yes, we came to the movies to WATCH it. One thing I was surprised about was that people actually paid attention to the “turn off your cell phone” warnings. I didn’t hear a single ring the whole time. Now one thing I will say is that there were 3 different warnings in between the previews. I wonder if there has been a study done and maybe 3 is the optimal number of times that people need to have a warning message sink in. Maybe one or two warnings is too few and more than three just annoys people to the point that they turn their ringers on full volume just to be spiteful. I don’t know. Also, what’s with the dude a couple rows back who was obviously hacking up a lung for several minutes at one time and then onand off throughout the movie? After a few gross coughs, maybe it’s time to hie thee to the lobby and finish your hacking there. I’m sure the person sitting in front of you would have appreciated that, especially. Also, maybe you shouldn’t come to the theater if you have Tuberculosis.

Categories
family pregnancy

Pregnancy update – 35 weeks

I’ve just passed the 35 week mark… Just a handfull of weeks until my due date. Things are going well, but I’m very busy going from appointment to appointment every week. I’m still dealing with the gestational diabetes, and that’s being managed okay, although my sugars were off this past week due to having a cold, but nothing really major, thankfully. Right now, they’re having me come in for fetal Non-stress tests twice a week, ultrasounds for aminiotic fluid index every week, ultrasounds for checking baby’s growth every 4 weeks, and now I’m seeing my doc every week for prenatal appointments. Lots of trips to the clinic and hospital each week! But all the appointments are making the time fly by even faster. I’m getting big. I can no longer close my winter coat over my belly! All the testing is going fine and baby seems to be doing well. She’s often very active during the ultrasound appointments, so I’ve not been able to get a really good ultrasound picture of her. The issues with my placenta being too low have resolved as well, so that was good to hear that I wouldn’t be required to have a scheduled c-section. I finally started packing my bag for the hospital. I can’t decide what clothes to bring for baby to come home. I can’t remember: is it okay to have baby wear a onesie when they still have the umbilical stump or should I bring a t-shirt instead of a onesie? Nathan and I toured the new OB/Labor & Delivery/Mom and baby units of the hospital. They’ve got nice, all PRIVATE rooms now. With Sean, they only had a certain number of private mom/baby rooms and they were filled when I was admitted, so I had a shared room. Nathan couldn’t stay with me since it was a shared room. This time, he should be able to stay with me overnight and they even have daybeds and sleeper couches to rest on. Glad I don’t have to be alone during the first nights… I remember that was pretty hard. Nathan and I were also talking about how women often say they “forget” how painful having a baby is. Well I said that too, but during the tour, when they showed us the beds in the labor/delivery rooms, it reminded me how much I appreciated the anesthesiologist who gave me the epidural. I just remembered pain… lots of pain when I saw the beds. haha! So that’s what’s going on. Not much longer to go. We’re excited to meet this little girl and I can’t wait to hold her in my arms.

Categories
health

If you were wondering…

In case you were wondering… having a cold when you’re 8 months pregnant is pretty miserable. Yeah, so there.

Categories
Albuquerque funny

No Soliciting… “No what?”

I was leaving Target the other night and a couple teenage boys came up to me and started their story, while trying to hand me a couple candy canes wrapped in ribbon.

“Excuse me, my grandma is in the hospital and I’d like to give her a Christmas present. Would you like to buy some candy?”

I kept saying no, and he kept asking. Me: “No thanks.” — Him: “She’s in the hospital…” —Me: “No.” — Him: “buy candy?”— Me: “No.” He finally stopped because the security guard came up on the Target security segway (I know, pretty sweet!). The guard said “There’s no soliciting allowed in the parking lot”. The kid said, “no what?”— guard: “no soliciting in the parking lot”. — kid: “no what?” — guard: “no…you can’t try to sell things in the parking lot.” — kid: “oh.”

It made me realize that there may be a large percentage of the population that do not know what “soliciting” means. We have a “No Soliciting” sign on our door and people still come to the door and ring and try to sell us things or give us free samples, or whatever. Either those people don’t know or they just don’t care. Either way, it’s annoying. Nathan and I have tried to come up with ways to get the point across when they ring the doorbell and we accidentally answer it. One thing is to just stay silent and as they continue through their scripted pitch, point at the sign. Maybe even shine it and pretend I’m straightening it. Then wave and close the door. Another thing is to do something completely off the wall, like open the door and when they start the sales pitch, hold up a finger as if to say “hold on” and then go get a handfull of dried beans. Go back to the door and hand them the beans, and when they start to talk again, say “shhh, they’re listening.” then close the door really slow like you’re looking out for something.

I also found that there’s a better sign available that can clear up any sort of confusion over what a solicitor is. Maybe we’ll try that out.

Categories
Albuquerque food

Try Something New

We’ve gotten to eat out at 2 places int he past week that we’ve never been to before. Both score very high on the Yumiliciousness scale.

Athens Ecclectic Greek Restaurant in the Far North shopping center of ABQ (San Mateo and Academy Blvd.) is this cool restaurant with beautiful blue paint all over the walls and beads over the windows. While I liked the decor of the place, I liked the Gyros even more. Best Gyros I’ve had since my beloved Koury’s deli closed down. *sniff, sniff… I still miss you, Koury’s!* Nathan had tha Falafel Gyros. While I’m not usually a fan of the falafel, I really liked theirs. The falafels were so yummy and moist on the inside. Previously, falafels I’ve had reminded me too much of the hush puppies you get at Captain D’s… ick! But the Falafels at Athens were moist and flavorful and sooo yummy. They also brought out a complimentarty dish of pita and hummus. Very tasty… Sean hogged most of the pita and hummus. So go eat there… Nathan and I are hoping the restaurant doesn’t die. We were the only ones there for lunch last Saturday. Hopefully it was just because people ware still recovering from their turkey hangovers.

Last night, we ate at Independence Grill. We got the table right by the Constitution. Nathan and I were trying to see if we could remember the preamble to the Constitution and Sean was coloring the American flag while we were waiting for our food. They have very patriotic and historical type theme/decor, in case you’re wondering. Go there for the burgers. Pretty yummy and right now there’s a coupon for “buy one burger, get one free” and more information available here . I had the “Bacon Avocado Jack Burger”… yep, pretty much tastes as good as it sounds. Also, try out the Pineapple coleslaw… it’s coleslaw with pineapples in it. It’s a little sweeter and tangier than regular coleslaw. Yum! They supposedly use American Kobe Beef in their burgers. Now I don’t know my different types of beed very well, but I know that the food was tasty. Go eat here for dinner after you have lunch at Athens… keep this place open. They have a less than ideal location on Montgomery right behind a laundromat… if you blink, you’ll miss it. I’d like to go back some time and try some prime rib or something else really meaty like that. I like meat.