Comfort food

OK, still not ready for the deep posting. And I may not be for a couple days.

So I've decided to share with you a very satisfying meal, the one I made for my family today. Apologies to vegetarians in advance; it's a crockpot pot roast.

This morning, I took the thawed roast (around 2 lbs/1 kg) from The Healthy Butcher (lots of organic meats, and they taste so wonderful--they also deliver!) from the fridge and seared it in a little olive oil over high heat. Tip: If you have a vent fan, turn it on before you put the meat in the pan. Smoke alarms at 7:30 am are no fun for anyone.

Before I put the roast in the crockpot, I chopped up a couple potatoes and stalks of celery and put those in the bottom. Place the roast on top and sprinkle an envelope of French onion soup mix over it. Then I spread two cans of cream of mushroom soup over the exposed parts of the roast--I think the original recipe only calls for one, but a second one is nice. Throw some chopped carrots around and on top of the roast, cover, turn to Low, and wait.

It was so nice to walk in to that aroma this evening. The juices of the roast and the soup combine into a very rich gravy. And the roast and vegetables all were wonderfully tender.

I have another favorite food day coming up since US Thanksgiving is coming up this Thursday. It'll be just the three of us since we couldn't organize anything bigger, but we've drafted a menu with all of my favorites: dressing, green bean casserole, and sweet potatoes, OH MY!

Miscellanea for a Monday evening, again

Some odds and ends today. I have some real, serious posts in the works, but don't have the attention span needed to bring them to fruition.

1. We had the honor of attending WonderBaby's 1st birthday party! Scooter had the fun of being one of the big kids, though it also meant he had to guard his favored playthings closely. Cakes had a tendency to want whatever he had--and they have matching shrieks of protest! Towards the end of our time there, he enjoyed chasing Strawberry through the front hall, kitchen, dining room, and living room, back to the front hall and around again, each one pushing some rolling toy. Much fun for all! Scooter fell asleep on the drive home and went to bed quickly. Bonus!

2. I've been very emotional today, even more so than usual. This is easily ascribed to hormones, but the question, of course, is PMS or pregnancy? Not sure. Waiting for the answer sometime this week, either way.

3. I am a little conflicted about what I want the outcome to be. I am very ready to have another baby, but would kind of like a break before the actual pregnancy. Perhaps the one thing that keeps coming to mind when I think about being pregnant again is just how exhausted I was during the first trimester--and that I have a lot to get done for this semester still, so I'll need to be sacrificing a little sleep in the next couple months.

4. Trillian is looking and feeling much better. She still feels weak and has a slight cough, but is no longer in the grips of pneumonia. So she now feels well enough that it annoys her not to be able to do everything she wants.

5. Trillian also discovered today the reason Scooter and I may still be coughing and feeling under the weather, despite plenty of recovery time. We almost always keep our blinds closed, because even a little sunshine heats our apartment insanely. Trillian looked outside to see if it was snowing. Instead she noticed pools of water along our window sills and mold. Apparently with the cold air outside, all the moisture in our air has caused condensation. Given that we strongly suspect mold allergies in Scooter and me, it would explain the continued cough. Time for the Lysol!

6. I'm still thinking about the recent breastfeeding brouhaha. Given that I'm likely to be breastfeeding again in less than a year, I've been thinking about it anyways. And I've been thinking about what I can do to make a difference, especially since reading Sunshine Scribe's new blog at Mommy Blogs Toronto.* So maybe there's a point of intersection?

*P.S. Go check out Mommy Blogs Toronto. Lots of great bloggers, lots of great content, lots more to come!

Breastfeeding = Terrorism?

I spent the day composing several different posts in my head, some funny, some serious. But I'm writing something completely different.

I had read about the woman who was kicked off a Delta flight for breastfeeding.* And of course I was angry and outraged, but had not particularly resolved to do any more.

Then I saw Her Bad Mother's addendum to her Thursday post. I went and signed the petition (easy to do--if you haven't already, head on over there!). And then I went over to MSNBC and found the section where they printed readers' comments on the issue. I did not ever click on "Read the full entry..." I got everything I needed from the little blurbs.

The anger boiled over.

While a few of the comments fully support the woman who had been breastfeeding, many of them put some of the blame on her or suggested ways in which the other side of the story might validate the flight attendant's actions. A good number of the comments decried the woman's rejection of the blanket that was offered, saying things like:

However if she did not want to comply with accepting the blanket, then she set herself up to be removed from the airline.

Another commenter used the argument that:

The issue is with breast-feeding in public. Breasts arouse sexual feelings in men and sometimes other women, and THAT is why there ought to be discretion. A pro-breast-feeder is going out of bounds when she purposely breast-feeds in a public place while it is made known to her that some people are uncomfortable about it.

But the one that really got me?

It does not offend me at all. I think this incident might have been more of a safety issue. After 9/11, flight attendants are more concerned with safety and if any passenger makes them feel uncomfortable or a passenger seems to not want to comply with the flight attendant's request, often they will be asked to leave the plane if it has not left the gate. Maybe that flight attendant felt threatened by the woman or felt she could cause trouble later in the flight.

OK. Deep breath.

Rant begins:

1. Given the reaction of some commenters, it appears that others may have brought up the child's age. 22 months. Almost 2-years-old. And in North America, in particular, often treated as "too old" to breastfeed. Never mind that the WHO recommends breastfeeding for at least the first two years of a child's life, that in many third-world countries children continue to nurse at least a little for several years beyond this, that the North American recommendations (6 months before solids, a year on at least some breastmilk) are frequently presented as compromises that try to balance health-based decisions with society's general ickiness around the breast.
2. Which is a whole other thing. The over-sexualization of the breast. One little flash, and people get all up in arms. I can't believe that some ass thinks that it is the breastfeeding woman's fault that the tiniest sight of her breast might cause men (and us lascivious lesbians) to lose control. Seriously--if she's nursing, maybe some of the flesh is showing. Perhaps there is a flash of nipple at the transition. But the solution? The perv doesn't need to be looking.
3. And the idea that she needs to cover the child up with a blanket. My son hated it whenever I tried to cover him with a blanket. With the thrashing and my inability to see what was going on under there clearly, there was more danger of me giving a show when I tried to be "more discreet."
4. I don't even know what to say about the suggestion that this was a security issue and that the discomfort the flight attendant felt about the breastfeeding woman might be equal to the discomfort created by a passenger who is acting weird and sending off terrorist vibes. Because if she was breastfeeding before the plane took off, she might very likely try to rush the cockpit once they were up in the air?

I had thought the hoo-rah over babytalk's magazine cover a few months ago was insane. And it seems even more so when I see these crazy moments juxtaposed against the studies and reports that demonstrate breastfeeding's benefits.

I'm not trying to pass judgment on anyone's breastfeeding practices, but--damn it--when will we get society to back off and not add another dimension to the difficulties?

*I just found on MSNBC that the flight attendant who removed the woman has been disciplined. Anger level recedes a little. Just a little. Because, really, why did this need to happen in the first place?

The green-eyed monster

I am jealous! And have been for a while.

I think it was Sunshine Scribe who first mentioned NaNoWriMo. That's National Novel Writing Month. The idea: during the month of November, write a 50,000 word novel. Focus on quantity over quality, an act to get the creative juices flowing.

Then I heard about NaBloPoMo and found out that Something Blue is participating. That would be National Blog Posting Month, the idea being to post something on one's blog every day of the month. I find this one slightly ironic, as I had been in a good pattern of writing every day here for over a month--something that ended with the events of Friday, October 13th.

But I am jealous of those who are participating in either of these challenges. Both of them elicited an "Oh, I want to do that." I toyed with the idea until I forced myself to be mature and responsible.

I have to give a seminar report on my research paper at the end of the month. And then write the paper (OK, it's not due until the beginning of January, but I need to get it done before I leave for Christmas so that I can study for the exam I'll have a couple days after the paper's due date).* Then there's the term exam I need to write. Soon. And oh-so-many pages of reading to do.

So this would be the dilemma posed by my blog. It has gotten me back into the habit regularly. I like that, as opposed to a journal, it encourages me to think about single topics and to shape my thoughts a little before putting them down. It is an outlet I have sorely missed. On the other hand, it makes me yearn to do more with my writing. I had forgotten just how fulfilling it is.

I'm already taking on a bit more. My first post over at Mommy Blogs Toronto should be up sometime soon. And in my other life, I have a chance to write something for a newspaper--a one-off, but tempting, nonetheless.

And I know, I've fully acknowledged, that I cannot handle both academic work and creative writing at the same time. And it's not something I can afford right now.

Speaking of which, off to some reading...

* It's a 15-20 page paper. And probably a 10 page presentation. Would that count towards the 175-page goal?

A new way to break an old rule

I have this rule, although it's kind of moot given my marital status, against dating within my field. While Trillian and I met in a class that was required in my field, it was only peripheral to hers. Some of this is due to my competitive nature; I would find it hard not to compare--grades, abilities, etc. Since my wife was using an aspect of my field as a tool in her field, not as the central focus, we could study the same material without encroaching on each other's territory.

There are several couples in my department, and I always wonder at their ability to balance their work and their relationship. Perhaps some of them are less competitive than I--though that's definitely not the case for all of them--or they are able to create a safe space around their relationship. I respect that most of them are committed enough to work through the rough spots.

And then I was introduced to a whole other aspect of the intra-departmental relationship. Recently, my best friend in the department--who is straight--was out with other students for a social event. Another student, who has made it quite clear that she embraces many forms of sexual expression, hit on her... quite insistently.

Now, after I had a hearty laugh, I realized that this is an aspect of my rule I had never considered--the one night stand. I'm pretty sure I had not consciously formed a corollary to my rule on this issue, probably because it is so obviously a bad idea. Especially when you will have to face this person around the department on a regular basis. Especially when the prey makes it clear that s/he's not interested and you keep pressing--wouldn't you get the idea that anything that might happen afterwards would be a result of either the pressure or too much alcohol and a major source of regret?

But maybe I'm just old-fashioned that way.

Detour

While in the car for a couple hours last week, I had a long and spirited debate about this whole trying-to-get-pregnant thing. OK, so I was the only one in the car, but I'm a passionate arguer. The debate: where to go from here?

The process has already been draining, more so than before. The major problem has been coordinating a minimum 5-hour trip (and usually more like 6 or 6 1/2 when I leave extra time for traffic and if I have to wait a little before a nurse can see me) to Nearby US City with my school obligations--teaching, office hours, my own classes--and my family--making sure Trillian can get Scooter to or from school and that they don't need the car. Needless to say, it can be difficult to coordinate and a source of much stress. With the added complication of the plague that has overrun my household, those 5+ hours take away greatly from other things I could be, need to be, doing.

So while I really want to be pregnant (NOW already!) and have my second before my son turns 2 1/2, I've decided to take a two-month break. That will get into the next semester, when my schedule will open up significantly, as I will not be teaching. I hope also to use the break to get better (since I'm still coughing), let my family recuperate, and maybe work out a bit.

Yet...

This is where the irony fairy could suddenly work her magic. Because this debate I had? On my way back from the fertility clinic. (That's try #3, for those following along at home.)

I doubt that I'm pregnant, given (TMI alert!) that my egg had already been released before the insemination and my cervix was not quite aligned or fully open. The nurse assured me that about 50% of the women who conceive have sonograms that show the egg has been released, but I also know that the time I did conceive, the insemination occurred just a little early. Similarly, the position and openness of the cervix tends to indicate the body's receptivity and fertility at the moment, so I suspect we just missed the window.

On the other hand, it would be just about right for me to finally* get pregnant when I am ready to take a breather.

*'Finally,' I say, as if I've been trying for ages. The last cycle was particularly disappointing because all of the signs pointed to peak fertility.

10 square

My 100th post! Assuming I did the math right (posts minus drafts that will never see publish). So here are 100 things about me, divided into 10 categories:*

I. 10 adjectives I'd use to describe myself (in alphabetical order):

1. contemplative
2. creative
3. intelligent
4. female
5. introverted
6. kind
7. lesbian
8. maternal
9. shy
10. tall

II. 10 ways in which I do not match the lesbian stereotype

1. I wear skirts and dresses (and can pull it off; I have lesbian friends and acquaintances who occasionally wear them, but it just doesn't work)
2. I took ballet lessons and seriously considered pursuing a performance career through high school.
3. I frequently let my hair grow long.
4. I am very curvy, not at all androgynous.
5. I own two purses (but see #3 below).
6. I am a dog person.
7. Most of my friends are not lesbians.
8. I sew, by hand and with a machine.
9. I wear girly underwear
10. I now drive a family car.
    

III. 10 ways in which I do match the lesbian stereotype

1. I almost always wear comfortable shoes, including wool socks with Birkenstocks or Crocs.
2. My wallet is brown leather and comes from the men's side.
3. I almost always carry my wallet and keys in my pockets (except when wearing a dress without pockets), rather than carrying a purse.
4. After letting my hair grow out for a while, I often cut it very short.
5. My favorite cold day outfit: T-shirt covered by flannel shirt, jeans, wool socks, hiking boots.
6. My first vehicle was a pick-up truck.
7. I'm pretty good at fixing things (though I'm allowed no major power tools--beyond the drill, sander, and small saw I already have--due to noise, mess, and the possibility of cutting off a finger).
8. I don't wear makeup.
9. I keep my fingernails fairly short.
10. I've had a cat most of my life.
    

IV. 10 jobs I think (or know) I would enjoy

1. Writer
2. Professor
3. Subject teacher (i.e., teaching my area of specialty in 7th-12th grade)
   
4. 4th-6th grade teacher
5. Artist-mosaics
6. Artist-bookmaker
7. General craftsperson
   
8. Mathematician
9. Research scientist
10. Xerox repairperson
    

V. 10 teachers (anonymized, of course) who have influenced my own teaching, working backwards

1. My Master's thesis adviser. Not so much for the thesis work (though that was enjoyable), but because he made it OK for me to leave my previous PhD program, not because I couldn't hack it academically, but because I didn't want to be there.
   
2. The professor who, with a well-timed compliment, gave me a boost of confidence and made me realize just how much I had improved in my subject area after having hit a plateau for some time.
   
3. My undergraduate mentor. She had high standards for coursework, but was one of the most sympathetic and caring people I met at university.
   
4. The teacher I had in high school for my primary field. She was all business in the classroom, but remained interested and involved in my studies long after I left. I have even emailed her on occasion when seeking teaching advice.
   
5. One of my high school social science teachers. I was never better informed about world events and geography than when I was in her class.
   
6. A high school English teacher who I had not wanted to take. He was a coach and popular among the weaker students. But my schedule wouldn't work any other way, and it was a course required of everyone in my grade, with no available honors versions. Once I got over my initial unhappiness about being in the class and accepted that it would not be as rigorous as I wanted, I began to use classtime to really observe what was going on. And I quickly came to appreciate what an amazing job he did of drawing out students who considered themselves dumb, helping them to find levels of literature they never had before.
   
7. A junior high teacher who was funny and quirky and so very smart. She got my attention and held it from the beginning. I still write to her too.
   
8. A junior high math teacher who used humor to help put me at ease. I was advanced in math from an early age, so I was taking a class two years ahead of most of my peers. When I started junior high in the same class as people in their last year at the school, I was a bit overwhelmed. He did a good job of balancing drawing me out and not making me feel too vulnerable.
   
9. The sixth grade science teacher who was just awful (I learned from negative examples too). Students quickly learned that if they didn't do their assignment, she'd devote all of our classtime to finishing it. I and another student were the sort never to put off homework, even if it was likely we'd have classtime to finish it--I always thought, "What if this is the one time she holds the line about handing it in at the beginning?" She also tended to reward the worst behaved students (pizza in return for serving their detention).
10. The teacher of gifted education who couldn't handle me. I had a whole slew of decidedly unintelligent 'gifted' teachers. This one made the mistake of starting a unit by saying it was on everyone's individual educational plan. It was not on mine and not a unit I cared to do, so I boycotted her lesson. She fought back, but I won the argument and was allowed to do an independent unit. The lesson I learned from this: don't try to pull one over on students, especially gifted students, but it's not fair to any of them.
    

VI. 10 authors who have influenced me (in writing, thinking, wishing I could run away to their worlds--and yes, many are sci-fi)

1. Robin McKinley
2. Kurt Vonnegut
   
3. Douglas Adams
   
4. Ursula LeGuin
5. Sheri S. Tepper
6. J.K. Rowling
7. Alison Bechdel
   
8. Maurice Sendak
9. Dr. Seuss
10. Shel Silverstein
    

VII. 10 movies I own on DVD so that I can watch them when I just want a good laugh

1. A Fish Called Wanda
2. Fierce Creatures (done by the same basic cast as #1 and generally under-rated)
3. When Harry Met Sally
4. French Kiss
5. Cold Comfort Farm
6. Princess Bride
7. Dogma
8. Office Space
9. The Full Monty
10. My Best Friend's Wedding
    

VIII. 10 TV series I own all or part of on DVD

1. Battlestar Galactica (all that's out there so far, including the miniseries)
   
2. Firefly (the few episodes there are)
   
3. Buffy the Vampire Slayer (all but the 7th season, can't tell you why we still don't have that)
4. Wonderfalls (another show that was gone too fast)
5. Monty Python's Flying Circus (about half of the series)
6. The L-Word (first season only, don't particularly want the second or third)
7. SportsNight (fastest half hour I've ever watched)
8. Coupling (first season, others are on our wishlist)
9. Powerpuff Girls (a few episodes)
10. Black Adder (the "Complete Collector's Set)
    

IX. 10 things I miss from the US

1. Target
2. Morningstar Farms vegetarian food
3. Sci-Fi channel
   
4. Lane Bryant bras
5. The Lebanese place within walking distance of our old house
6. Our favorite coffee shop--they roasted their own coffee on site
   
7. Whold Foods' organic macaroni and cheese
8. Earth's Best organic cereal bars
9. Being able to easily figure out how many miles per gallon my car is getting (our odometer is in miles, so I can't easily switch to kilometers per liter)
10. Spelling words with an -er instead of an -re.
    

X. 10 types of animals I have had as pets

1. dogs
2. cats
3. guinea pigs
4. hamsters
5. rats
6. tropical fish
7. saltwater fish
8. newts
9. tarantulas
10. snakes
    

*This is not exactly a novel idea. Thanks to Bub and Pie for her 100th post and its inspiration.