My condolences, Fred.

I'm eating an avocado for dinner. Sometimes I wonder about my choices.

I still love being able to throw in a load of laundry on a whim.

I was 500 post behind when I got in here! So I've skipped ahead before I go back and catch up to ask for a hive-mind favor!

I have a baby shower next Sunday for a niece and she and her hubs announce a couple of months ago that they intend to raise their daughter as a Pirate!

So I'm putting together a Pirate Baby Book for her. I want to make a treasure map with a picture of my niece as the "island" where the treasure is buried, on a flap that reveals one of her sonagram pics. Then after the baby is born they can replace the picture with a new one.

What I need help with are the names of locations on the map. I want to create pregnancy milestone/pirate names for places. But, I can't come up with anything.

You guys are the most inventive, articulate, creative and funny people I know, so any suggestions would be very much appreciated!

Now, back to catch up!

First Steps (off the plank)

::not really here::

You want *pregnancy* milestones, quester? I'm not sure there are a lot that are catchy, you know? Except maybe, like, Hemorrhoid Hill or something.

Other milestones are hearing the baby's heartbeat, sonogram pictures, discovering the sex. Most of the other ones take place in utero, really.

Baby's first kick?

Oooh, good one. Also if the baby has the hiccups. First contraction, too, I guess.

From a NY Times Magazine article about prayer in America. [link]

And a predominantly gay synagogue in San Francisco, Congregation Sha’ar Zahav, has composed its own prayer to be said after anonymous sex. “In the dark, in a strange place, our father Jacob encountered a stranger with whom he grappled all night,” a reference to the Biblical story of Jacob wrestling with an angel. “He never knew the stranger’s name, yet their encounter was a blessing which turned Jacob into Israel and made him realize, I have seen God face to face.” The prayer asks God — “who created passion and wove it throughout creation” — to bless casual sex and turn it into a blessing “that allows us to both touch and see the Divine.”

I, like many others here, hang a u-ey.

My mom came and helped me today, and damn she is getting old. Also, she just got diagnosed with diabetes, and all they did was give her a pamphlet????

I sometimes do a u-ey.

Ugh of the day--I just called in about my jury duty

You have been placed on telephone stand-by and must call (650) 599-1700 on Monday, September 28, 2009 between 11:15 AM and 11:45 AM for further information.

PLEASE NOTE: JURORS PLACED ON TELEPHONE STANDBY MAY BE ASKED TO REPORT TO THE LOCATION ON SHORT NOTICE (LESS THAN 2 HOURS). ALSO, YOUR REPORTING LOCATION AND/OR TIME MAY CHANGE.

One of the places I might have to go is almost an hour away from work too.

Amy, I'm open to any concept that works. I just figured since the baby is ultimately the treasure, that getting there must deal with pregnancy stuff.

I like first steps on plank, heartbeat and sex are good ideas.

Keep em coming!

ION, I just heard today that after my $200ish November payment to COBRA, my December payment will be $500+! I really didn't plan on being unemployed this long!