Category — Random Thoughts

We thought that it would be nice to show everyone our new place and that that might help with some of the visualizations later on! Please bear in mind that this is our first attempt at posting a video and that its my first attempt at using iMovie. While we live near Hollywood, I don’t have the movie making skill set (yet!). So please feel free to let me know your thoughts, comments, questions, etc because we think that video is better than pictures for you to be able to ‘feel’ our life. And when the little one gets here, we’ll try to post videos as well.

So here goes – (and there is sound too! Or at least there was when I made it!)…

There was a small earthquake just off the coast southwest of Santa Monica early this morning and I did what I’ve done for the last two…sleep right through it! The other two were in Chicago of all places and were actually much stronger than the one this morning, but I was completely unaware of the event until hours after the fact. Well, today I learned of the trembler after lunch when co-workers were comparing notes of who felt it at such an early hour.

In hindsight, Belle was acting particularly weird yesterday evening and I attributed it to missing Dan, who is in Ohio right now. Next time Belle starts whining for no apparent reason, I will stay awake all night waiting to feel my first earthquake!

You would all be proud of me tonight, I was on my way to pre-natal yoga and spotted David Caruso, the lead detective on CSI Miami, patiently waiting outside the Lush store next to my yoga studio. Just as I started to second guess myself on his star status, he was approached by a fan who started bombarding Mr. Caruso with questions about his upcoming work, to which the celeb pulled a pre-signed square piece of paper out of his pocket and said he needed to “take this call”, pointing to his cell that wasn’t ringing I smiled at him, walked on by and felt somewhat dignified for leaving this man in peace.

My dignity didn’t last long though, when at yoga, I struggled to stand on one leg with my lopsided shape and kindly declined to do the handstand move that looked way out of my league. At the end of each class, we pause in silence with the lights dimmed for reflection and meditation. Apparently I still had my cell phone on, because my ringtone of Fergie & Daddy Yankee’s Impacto blared through the yoga studio. I just laid there and hoped that no one knew which purse was singing “
You know what happens when I step into the place; Fergalicious for the ones who get a taste; But they know I ain’t promisciuous; The way I shake it up in this; The ladies don’t know real from the fake; You got a problem? Come and say it to my face!; You got a problem? Come and say it in my face!; Fergie-Ferg make an impact; Imma pull ya wig back; Fellas like the way I move my waist

As I sit in my pajamas watching the Oscars tonight, I admit that there is an allure to the celebrity lifestyle.  The pretty dresses (especially Jessica Alba who is very pregnant) and mingling of Hollywood “royalty” looks so great from my couch.  Actually, the Independent Spirit awards were last night in Santa Monica and they looked more fun because everyone was under a big tent on the beach and it was much more laid back.  Maybe we’ll try to sneak in next year.

The truth is that I typically wouldn’t know a celebrity unless they had a ring of photographers around them.  Last summer Dan and I saw Lebron James at the Apple store, but it took us the full 30 seconds to say “that guy looks familiar, a tall black man in warm ups surrounded by six men in similar suits…oh right, it’s Lebron James in town for the ESPYs”  By the time we figured it out, he was gone.  What would we have done if we had known sooner?  Nothing.

So why do I watch the red carpet so intently?  Maybe I’ll get to do this some day.  No, I don’t aspire to being an actor (yet) and Dan’s not acting as a body double in his spare time, but who knows, I never thought I’d be where I am today, so why couldn’t it happen?

On a slightly more serious note, I’m looking online for a new doctor in LA while watching all the beautiful people.  One possible hospital I’ve come across is Cedars Sinai in Beverly Hills (between work and Santa Monica) which is listed as one of the best hospitals in the nation according to U.S. News & World Report.  It is near where we stayed last summer, conveniently located near the Beverly Center Shopping Mall to provide entertainment for anyone who might be there on our big day   But as you might suspect, they offer a bit more than a normal birthing center.  They offer deluxe suites that can be as large as 3 rooms with 2 bathrooms, hardwood floors, complimentary bottled water and juice, stereo/CD, TV/VCR, hotel-style robe to take home, and you can arrange for spa services such as a haircut, style, or mani/pedi.  If you don’t believe me go here to see photos of these very sleek accommodations.  But remember, reservations are required, so hopefully the baby understands how this new city works on reservations only policies

Don’t worry, we’ve already been warned about keeping our wholesome midwest values when we go west and I’m sure you all would let us know when we’ve officially gone off the deep end.  (Although no one said much about potty training the cat to go in the toilet…)  We won’t let Hollywood change us, but I warn you, the beach might

Quick post to show how much I’m learning during this pregnancy. Prior to her being pregnant, I would have questioned why in the world she would have the empty ice cream box still in the freezer. But as you can tell from the photo below, its not really empty and that’s why its still in the freezer!

There are a number of ways to eat the rest of this ice cream:

1. Peal back the sides and lick it clean

2. Strap it on and treat it like a muzzle

3. Use a spatula and scrape out the remainder like you would with cake batter

4. Let it melt and drink it like a chocolate shake

I can’t believe I almost tossed this in the trash. I realize now that she is probably putting me through an advanced training program that she found in one of her twelve pregnancy books designed to ensure that I’m properly prepared for parenthood. That is one land mine that I just avoided! I’ll admit that I’m pleased with my progress and will continue to post what I’ve learned. That way, other expecting fathers can learn with me!