Hallow WEAN

Wean, as in, today I entertained the thought that maybe this month I should wean myself off of giving in to EVERY single spontaneous craving I have just because I'm preggo. Don't misinterpret--no dieting or any ridiculous thing like that. But, for example, on the way home from Texas today we passed a Braum's billboard...and in that exact moment I HAD to have a chocolate ice cream cone. Had. To.

Of course, we passed a Braum's soon (and at least 7 more between Ardmore & OKC) and I got my fix. But the reality is that I wasn't even hungry. Just wanted it on a whim. I had already been to a DQ earlier that day. ;)

So...I seriously love the indulging lifestyle that your psyche automatically acclimates to when you learn you are "eating for two." But I don't anticipate a lot of joyous days of summer if I am trying to work off 70 extra pounds. :)

I did enjoy all the yummy snacks at the Halloween party. (hey, a gal's gotta find SOME kind of guilty pleasure to overindulge in at a house party, right?) There was guac, spinach-artichoke dip, pizza rolls, meatballs, cheesecake, various yummy homemade dips. Yup, other than my Whoopie Cushion debut, the highlight of my wild party night was trying dips. I will admit that it is quite fun to sit back & observe others who are overindulging in other ways. But truly not enough drama there, either. So this pregnant Whoopie Cushion retired to bed in the midst of the party (we were staying with the hosts) and went off to dreamland while the speakers loudly boomed a Pandora station--early 90s rap. I think I had dreams about the Humpty Dance and Rob Bass. Ah, well.

Thanks for a great weekend of Halloween-Texas style-Abe & Steph!

Blacklights & Boomers

I love, love, love Halloween. I think a lot of people do! I feel sorry for those kids who have super freaky parents who think they can't let their kids participate because it's the "devil's holiday." It truly is about fun, together-ness, and fall! For example, we had Scary Record Night at my mom's house the other night. Old 1970s records with spooky sounds & ghost stories. I hadn't heard some of them since I was a kiddo so it was crazy for me! I remembered it once they started up!

And although I didn't get any actual decorations this time around....(the fact that our garage sale crap is still littering the driveway/porch is scary enough)...I did purchase some blacklight bulbs & put them on the porch ceiling fan. Kinda creepy at night!

Of course, another sign fall is truly here is the fact that on Saturdays I have many loved ones that morph into different creatures. That is, Game Day completely inhabits their bodies. Ok, I cheer for both OU & OSU...I say "cheer" loosely because I often a)don't know what time either is playing b)don't know WHO they are playing and c)didn't attend either university. (there's a 10% chance I will study for my doctorate at OSU someday...)

Yet, it IS fun to hear one of your state teams is ranked #1. And I love that OSU has been on a huge winning streak. So, I say to my football-fanatic friends & fam: I truly am sorry about both losses yesterday. Ouch.

Just please don't get DEPRESSED over it. I actually know a few peeps that you don't even talk to for a few days after a loss. They have to reflect & have proper mourning time. Wow, imagine if people got that passionate about their God...or their principles...or civil rights. I guess a game where big burly men are scrambling for a leeetle bitty pigskin is just more...emotional. ;)

I jest. It's part of the fun of living in Oklahoma.

But here I am, typing in bed, eating some Raisin Bran, and delaying the fact that I've got MIDTERMS to study for today. Arrrgghh! I really love learning. Yet studying solely for the purpose of regurgitating it onto a scantron has never been interesting. Ah well, the hoops ya gotta jump...

Happy Sunday!

October is almost over, what?

And since Tanner & I will be going to Texas to stay with friends/relatives & attending their Halloween party....I actually bought a costume! I often just 'make' something really quickly, or just say "screw it" and put on one of my hippie skirts and call it a day. But, no, I went to an actual costume store & found a costume. This is tricky when you are beginning to show & you know in another week you'll only have a bigger baby bump. (man, if I were like 8 months along I have some hilarious ideas, darn it!).

So, the giant Woopie Cushion seemed like a good preggo pick. And I even asked a shop worker if there was a pregnant lady section. ;) I WILL tell you that I was offended. You may think it takes a lot to offend me but it really doesn't....when it comes to the derogatory profiling of women that our society is so good at mastering. (oh, and that many women allow with open arms).

See, the men's costume aisle had some clever, funny stuff. Ok, it also had some super dirty stuff. (don't ask about the fireman & where they put the hose). But the ladies aisle? EVERY costume was based on super short skirts, shirts made to have boobage spilling out, and fishnets. EVERY costume. They all screamed, "I don't have brains! But I have a nice rack & I'll gladly show you my goods!" With titles like 'Sexy Nurse' (ok, that's a classic) and 'Sexy Vampire' actually on the packages...it is obvious who creates the costume market. I'm not saying that adult costumes need to all be G-rated....but c'mon, give a gal a CHOICE here! Especially a pregnant one! IF WOMEN WOULD QUIT BUYING INTO THIS CRAP IT WOULD SUBSIDE.

So, yes, I am a Woopie Cushion (and that's how they spell it on the costume itself but I beg to defer that there's an 'H' in there) because it was one of the few choices I had that would not require me to show my boobs. Here it is. And believe me, I've got boobs, but think I'll keep them a little more secret. Maybe in a faraway land where women actually get equal pay as men for equal jobs...and less men in society leave their wives & children when they decide it's time to move on...I'll chill out a little more about objectification.

Phew, my ranting should probably be limited to one topic at a time...but if you are my Facebook friend you know I am on a rant about our upcoming Gubernatorial election. I've learned enough actual FACTS that lead me to believe it is my duty to get the word out that we have one narcissistic politician vying to be Oklahoma's first female governor.

I challenge anyone reading this to please do some reading (not just talking to your friends, including me) and learn for yourself why having Fallin win this coveted title is a very bad idea. Watch the debate at UCO...kfor has it posted. Here, I'll link it: click. It's really spotty at first. It takes a good 55 seconds to even show anything, but wait for it. Opening speeches immediately display the two very different kinds of women we have running this race. That ALONE sold me. :) Yet I'll save more specifics for another time because I may be up on my ranting quota today. Just call me Kelly Ogle & give me 2 cents. Ha!

~That Curl Girl

Things I've Meant to Write...

I've had some bits & pieces of thoughts over the past few weeks. Things I want to remember because they either a)make me smile or b)might make you smile. Things that remind me that, yes, we DO live in a sunny, funny world if we stop & look for it.

--ok, so about 3 weeks ago, I was having a stress-filled grocery store run. There are many reasons why it was more laborious than even the routine trip:

a)I'm preggers. Did I mention that yet? Oh, because I will like 46 more times in this blog alone. You see, I don't know if this happens to EVERYone, but my sense of smell is so heightened right now that the mere cracking of the refrigerator door sends whiffs to my nose that often make me lose my appetite. And I throw things out BEFORE they expire. So the grocery store is an extremely, shall we say, sensory experience. I find my gag reflex gets excercised well there, particularly walking past the bakery or the produce (don't ask why, I don't know!)

b) This was my third trip to a grocery store to find the ONE thing I wanted. I wanted, no I NEEDED snow crab legs. And everyone had king crab, but Noooooooo, not snow! So, finally found some (sub-par) legs & also grabbed a 12-pack...of root beer, silly! So juggling this in line & the guy in front of me is talking brilliantly fast in Spanish on his cell. He gets off & IMMEDIATELY grabs my 12-pck and sets it on the conveyor. Didn't even say a word. I felt so touched by this...I was honestly about to judge him (cell phone talkers in line? arrgghh) and he instead shed a bright spot on my mini craving/crisis and actually made me feel like humanity as a whole just scored a big, fat point. I thanked him. He smiled & in perfect, dialect-free English: "Man, I can't stand that when I'm holding something heavy in line!" He waved to me & left. Not a flirty wave, a kind happy wave. I told the cashier (as she punched the crab leg code into the register) that he just totally made my day.

---I was sick in bed on my official first day of my second trimester, which was last Friday. And that was supposed to be a "crossing of the threshold" of sorts. I've heard rumors--nasty, false rumors--that you SUDDENLY, magically feel 110% better when you hit trimester dos. Ok, so I have a nasty head cold & my husband is outta town instead. He was gone for 4 days floating the gorgeous Buffalo River with his BFF and his fiance. It was a trip that I was to go on with them (they wanted us 4 to do an engagement trip with them) but when I got preggo we decided that me in remote, cell phone-free locations canoeing and camping was not the best idea. Did I mention I also have high anxiety & am a hypochondriac? So...barely getting to talk to Tan & wishing I was there. On the flipside, once I got well, it was kinda fun to suddenly have all this time to myself...going to sit at coffee shops & being silent for hours. I know I can do that whether my husband is in town or not, but there's something totally different about truly being "on your own" for a few days. I had a very rich, independent, long singlehood...so this side of myself is super fun to revisit.....but I missed Tanner a ton & I was almost NERVOUS the night he was to come home. I didn't want to bombard him. I just cooked him a little dinner & planted a wet one on him. (He looked hot & rugged & tan after his Tom Sawyer-esque adventure). And I'll end there, I promise, but it reminds me that I love BOTH sides of myself....the cooking wifey and the adventurous solo chick. Never wanna lose either one!

*I have more vignettes about the life & times of a grad schoolin', baby-growin', newlyweddin', guitar-slingin' gal from Okie City...but it's bubble bath time for this kindergarten-teaching (my current clinical assignment for my autism program) gal & my feet ache for the warm (yes, only warm) water! I'll return again, my lovlies!

~That Curl Girl