7.29.2003
Wanna see some pictures from the baby shower that my relatives in Georgia gave us? We really appreciate everything that was done for us -- it means so much to have the support of family.
7.28.2003
Shaverfamily.org is having a yard sale! We've got a few things we're looking to sell, and you can check them out here.
7.24.2003
Lots going on, but not much time to write about it. I do want to ask for your thoughts/prayers on one thing: my cousin is having surgery tomorrow to remove tumors from her bladder. They don't know yet if they are malignant or benign (they'll test the tumors after they remove them). I can't imagine waiting to find out about something like that... I'm sure it hasn't been an easy week for them.
7.17.2003
I could see how people might jump down my throat for what I'm about to say, but I feel so sad for the man in Santa Monica who drove his car through a crowded farmers' market. I also feel sad for the victims and their families, don't get me wrong, and I would probably agree with all the talk that is already surfacing about needing more stringent driver's testing for the elderly. It's just that I have this thing about old people, and even if he had no business being behind the wheel, I still feel horribly sorry for him. I cried when I saw him on the news for the first time this morning. It's difficult for me to explain it; for me I think that when people reach a certain point in old age, they become like children again, with an innocence that makes it harder for me to hold them accountable for their actions. But the elderly are different from children in their innocence; for them innocence is the result of losing the abilities they once possessed in full. It's that component of loss that makes it seem so tragic to me.
Another example of my thing about old people: several weeks ago I was with The RRs at the retirement community where we rehearse. I was on my way up the hall alone and came up behind an aide pushing a woman in a wheelchair. The woman kept saying over and over, "Please let me die. Please just let me die." She wasn't hysterical or upset; with her tone of voice she could have been saying, "Please get me a glass of water." She looked to be in pretty good health other than the fact that she was in a wheelchair, and she was dressed nicely and had a neat hairstyle. The aide pushing her wasn't particularly fazed by what the woman was saying; in fact, she responded with, "Now why do you want to die? Why are you saying that?" in a fairly friendly, conversational tone. The woman just kept repeating her request. The whole scene just struck me as being so sad, and has stayed with me all this time. Again, it's hard for me to explain, but I think that little snippet of conversation would have rolled right off of some people. I'm not sure why things like that affect me the way they do, but when it comes to old people, it's just a given that that's how it is for me.
Another example of my thing about old people: several weeks ago I was with The RRs at the retirement community where we rehearse. I was on my way up the hall alone and came up behind an aide pushing a woman in a wheelchair. The woman kept saying over and over, "Please let me die. Please just let me die." She wasn't hysterical or upset; with her tone of voice she could have been saying, "Please get me a glass of water." She looked to be in pretty good health other than the fact that she was in a wheelchair, and she was dressed nicely and had a neat hairstyle. The aide pushing her wasn't particularly fazed by what the woman was saying; in fact, she responded with, "Now why do you want to die? Why are you saying that?" in a fairly friendly, conversational tone. The woman just kept repeating her request. The whole scene just struck me as being so sad, and has stayed with me all this time. Again, it's hard for me to explain, but I think that little snippet of conversation would have rolled right off of some people. I'm not sure why things like that affect me the way they do, but when it comes to old people, it's just a given that that's how it is for me.
7.16.2003
I'm still stunned. It's been about a month now since Chris and I found out the truth, but it still feels like my whole reality has shifted.
You mean it's "Nobody doesn't like Sara Lee?" Chris and I both have lived our entire lives thinking it was "Nobody does it like Sara Lee," which in my opinion is actually a much better slogan. No nasty double negatives to deal with. When we saw the delivery truck on the road with the slogan painted on it, we both thought it was a mistake. I just can't get over it. I'm considering continuing to believe in my version and do my best to put the other out of my head. (Apparently we're not the only ones who've been "mistaken.")
You mean it's "Nobody doesn't like Sara Lee?" Chris and I both have lived our entire lives thinking it was "Nobody does it like Sara Lee," which in my opinion is actually a much better slogan. No nasty double negatives to deal with. When we saw the delivery truck on the road with the slogan painted on it, we both thought it was a mistake. I just can't get over it. I'm considering continuing to believe in my version and do my best to put the other out of my head. (Apparently we're not the only ones who've been "mistaken.")
7.11.2003
I'm convinced that many mornings, I'm not fully awake until I step out of the shower. Sometimes the thoughts I have while I'm showering are almost like dreams, in that they're very strange and I can't always fully remember them later. This morning I woke up with "Ice, Ice, Baby" in my head. Not the whole song, just that early bit that goes, "Stop, collaborate and listen." Except that I couldn't remember "collaborate." I knew it was a four syllable word that ended in "-ate" but I had no idea what it was. So I spent my shower time trying to come up with the word. Investigate? Nope, though "stop, investigate and listen" sounds like some good safety advice, like "stop, drop and roll." Exfoliate? Um, no. Expectorate? As much as that sounds like something Vanilla Ice might ask us to do, no. Finally, towards the end of the shower, I hit on "collaborate" and the line mercifully disappeared from my mind.
And you know, it's only after writing this that I have some inkling as to why I woke up with this running through my head. Last night we attended an infant CPR class, and one of the things you are supposed to do to assess whether the child is breathing is "look, listen, and feel." I wonder if that's not what set me off with "stop, collaborate and listen."
And you know, it's only after writing this that I have some inkling as to why I woke up with this running through my head. Last night we attended an infant CPR class, and one of the things you are supposed to do to assess whether the child is breathing is "look, listen, and feel." I wonder if that's not what set me off with "stop, collaborate and listen."
7.07.2003
It couldn't hurt to blog every once in a while, now could it? I really have gotten lax about updating... there's just so much to do these days. Plenty of things are happening that I could write about, but none of them really seem worth the effort. Hmm.
Anyway, here's something for you: pictures of the newly decorated nursery with a Curious George theme. Many thanks to Chris and his mom for all their hard work over the weekend. I am convinced we have the coolest nursery around. :)
Anyway, here's something for you: pictures of the newly decorated nursery with a Curious George theme. Many thanks to Chris and his mom for all their hard work over the weekend. I am convinced we have the coolest nursery around. :)
