Something random...

I've always been fascinated with how cars work. Especially the inter-workings of the engine. It's actually really nice that I have Jim, because he is a bottomless pit of information when it comes to this subject. We have had hours upon hours on conversations where he's explained the various parts of automobiles to me and how they work together. He's even taught me how to change my own oil. I'm a visual person, and I loved being under my car looking at everything and how it was connected.

The reason I'm even mentioning all this is because I've noticed my car not slipping into gear like it should. I asked Jim if it could be the transmission, and he said it was most likely the fluid (since I haven't had it changed...well...EVER...and I got the car in 2001). I decided to add that to my list of things to check on my car (in addition to oil level, air in the tires) before my trip to Canada tomorrow, and I found this article about ATF (automatic transmission fluid) that is perhaps the most user-friendly and easy to understand step by step ever.

Is it nerdy that I want to print it out to make sure I remember everything I learned from it?

Sadness.

Rest in Peace, Heath. I hope you are surrounded with true joy and happiness now.

This tragedy makes my heart sad. Not just because it's an actor I admired, but because this kind of thing happens every day. To the famous and the unknown. Why can't everyone just die of old age in their sleep?

Today's joy

Today at my doctor's appointment, the doctor was trying to find our little boy's heartbeat through my belly. He'd just get to where he'd find it, and our little boy would lash out and hit it. It was so cute. I'd hear *woosh woosh woosh BASH*. And then I'd laugh and distort everything. This went on for several minutes. I kind of joked that he didn't like being crowded, and the doctor said, "no, he just wants to play".

How adorable is that?

Forced to be social


I tend to get a bit reclusive when Jim's out of town. I don't know why, because I love to go out and spend time with my friends. I think maybe it's a security thing.

But my friends and family are making sure I get out of the house...

Wednesday night, a couple of friends from work and I hung out, ate dinner, and watched the second half of the American Idol tryouts. It's so hard for me to watch the people who can't sing. I get so embarrassed for them. I can't look.

Then last night, my mama invited me over for dinner (fried chicken, biscuits and gravy, and corn on the cob-yum!) and I finally got to play my dad in some pool (he got a pool table for Christmas). The food was delicious and I beat my dad. It was a good night.

Tonight, the new show I love is on (Moonlight). It's kind of odd, but I am really into it. I think it's my obsession with vampires. Or maybe it's my obsession with the tall, dark-haired, blue-eyed lead actor. Either way, there's a new episode on tonight, which, in a world where the writers' strike may go on forever, is a very valuable thing. The man playing the lead is Australian (or so I've read). I would love to hear him talk without the "American" accent sometime. Aussie is by far my favourite accent. Do you ever get used to it, Danielle?

Snippets of sunshine

-Today, I got an e-mail from the passport people letting me know my passport had been processed and was on its way back to me. Since I payed to have it overnighted, that means it will be here Thursday at the latest. HUGE sigh of relief.

-Not only did I book one wedding today (a.k.a. received a retainer check), I mailed out contracts to two other brides who want me and plan on returning those contracts with checks. I have three more who have had me tentatively "hold" dates as well.

-Jim called me earlier and we talked for over a half hour. You have to understand, Jim's not a big phone-talker. He did that just for me. My husband is just wonderful. Plus, his phone has been receiving most of my texts again. Woot!

-I'm getting caught up at work. This is just good.

-I'm ready (I think) for my big meeting tomorrow with the tax guy. If I calculated correctly, my business will take a loss for its first year. That sounds bad, but in the tax world, that's good, or so I've been told. We'll see!

-God has given me amazing friends. I'm thankful for all of you :)

Overwhelmed

Because:
-I'm dealing with some recurring anger issues toward a friend (nobody who reads this).
-I just finished advertising at The Bridal Fair this past weekend, and am following up with a TON of leads, which is good, but have had several brides e-mail me asking about my website and why it's not working. There is a good reason for this; it's not up yet. And I might be losing potential business because it's not.
-I have been praying hardcore for a close friend for some really serious crap, and it's been on my heart constantly for about three weeks now.
-Jim's trip to Thailand and Bangladesh just got extended by another whole week because they figure since he's "in the area" he should go to Australia. He'll now be gone for a total of almost three weeks. That's the longest since I met him, 3 1/2 years ago.
-We have several bills that will come due before Jim gets home. I can't PAY them, because Jim has the laptop we use to balance our account and actually see how much we have to spend.
-Jim's fancy new Blackberry does not get reception in Asia, so I'm basically cut off from him. He can call and text me, but I can't reply or call him back. I'm helpless here.
-I am in my eighth month of pregnancy now and am NOT comfortable and starting to deal with a CRAP load more emotions, which magnifies everything on this list by about 100.
-I just realized TODAY that I sent in for a new passport for the trip to Europe but somehow managed to forget that I NEED IT TO GET TO CANADA ONE WEEK FROM FRIDAY. I've only been promising to photograph Dan's wedding for months. There's a number I can call if I haven't received it yet, but I have to wait til within 1 week of travel. (Why?!?)
-My house is a mess and I'm trying to figure out how I'm going to clean it or even get motivated since I've been working every day since he left including weekends and will be continuing to do so through February 1st.
-Jim doesn't even know if he can get home before Dan's wedding; he might have to fly into Toronto and meet me there...that is, assuming I can even get into the country.

Whenever I think about it, it's hard to breathe. I just feel overwhelmed and alone. I want to curl up in a ball and cry myself to sleep. And then sleep until it all goes away.

Recovering from PC hate

Actually, the hate will probably always be there. There are at least two more chapters to the saga, but let's just say I'm working my way around the inept-ness of PCs. That, and when Jim and I went to Best Buy recently, an hour long chat with an employee and fellow Mac lover served as an adequate catharsis for the time being.

Jim is in Thailand again. This is his fourth trip there, and this time he's swinging by Bangladesh on his way home. Woot for him! He really enjoys travelling as part of his job. And I'm thankful he gets to experience so much. And I'm really excited to let everyone in blog-ville know this:

I get to go with him on his next trip!!!

It is the first full week in February (the 3rd to the 10th), and we'll be going to Holland and Germany. (I'll finally get to go there, Aimee!) And unlike our two former attempts, this trip cannot be cancelled. There are people coming from all over the world to meet in Holland these days specifically. It's quite the big deal for his company.

And before anyone asks, YES, I asked my doctor. I will still be in my 8th month at that point, and the doc said that since I've had a perfectly healthy pregnancy, the risk is really low. He said that if I did go into labor, it wouldn't be because I flew somewhere. It would be because it was going to happen anyway. The doc said it's unlikely at that point anyway (6 weeks early). But we'll be in two major cities mostly anyway, so I feel secure in their facilities if that does happen.

I'm excited. EEE!

Other than that, I'm just getting ready for the Bridal Show this weekend. My display is going to be much better this year. I'm going to have a banner, really professional business cards, and best of all, a slide show of my work on a wide-screen monitor. It's going to look much better than last years...much more professional and modern. I'm looking forward to it.

I hope I'm not bored...last year was quite the test of my attention span. Well, I pretty much failed the test...

OK, must get back to work now. I have a lot to do. And I want some chocolate.

LOVE!

Ode to the PC

Your freeze up for no reason.
Your programs cannot share files or communicate with each other.
Hell, some programs can't even recognize their own files.
Anyone attempting to do anything media related with you
Would be better off blowing their brains out
Than wasting any portion of their lives trying.
I hate your guts.
I want you to die.


I want my MacBook.