Bathing John Malkovich

Sometimes you just post a video because it's effin' awesome.

Random Blog Awesomeness

If I had a quarter for every quarter I put in the jukebox at the Moose Lodge to hear The Devil Went Down to Georgia while I waited for my grandpa to finish his beer, I could buy a moleskine notebook.

--Wagging Tales

Making the world better in about an hour

I watched these two speeches yesterday and it took about an hour and I feel like a better person for having listened to their smart, smart words.

First, Dave Eggers who started the first of the 826s, which is the organization that I work for. They finally put his TED speech up on the TED blog. Unfortunately, they cut out the part about 4 of the other 826 locations (which Seattle is one) but the idea and the tone and the inspiration are there.



Second, Barack Obama, who dares to make me feel hopeful about this country. This is the first time in my life I felt like a politician was speaking to me like a real human being. Not condescending, not making it fit for sound bytes, not catering to the whims of the media for better spin. The first time in my life. I will vote for him even though the Republicans will steal the election again anyway.

Welcome to Weirdsville

Oh let the onslaught of ridiculously named baby supplies begin: Announcing the Prince Lionheart Wash Pod

She's a mover and a shaker

We are narrowing down names, but girl bean has been redubbed "Beana" for the time being. Much bigger than a bean now (in fact, she is just about a pound and a half!) She is moving like crazy and kicking and making herself known many times a day now...it is heavenly! I simply love knowing she is in there and alive and well.

I know I am pissing off women everywhere who have had morning sickness or food aversions or horrible heartburn and anxiety and insomnia, but I find myself saying the following phrase often and repeatedly: There is nothing about being pregnant that I haven't completely loved.

During my ultrasound on Wednesday the technician paused and looked at me.
"How tall are you?"
"5-9" I said.
"How tall is her dad?"
"He's tall!" I answered. "6'5" or so."
She nodded and smiled. "This girl's legs are l-o-n-g long. She's measuring around the 28th or 29th week for legs." She snapped a cutie pie picture of her long-ass legs all tucked up, knees to forehead and ankles crossed and handed it to me. It's precious.
Later I told Jon who laughed and said, "That's my girl!"

What this brought crashing beautifully home to me in a way that tugs at that place in your throat that trembles when you know you're about to cry is that this little person, this perfect, wondrous being is something that is completely Jon and me. We made her. She is us. God I love that. I love that almost as much as I love that she is kicking me softly right now -- a deep and tender thump somewhere under my bellybutton, letting me know she's there.

Quote of the Day

"I do feel that when you're born into the world, you're given a ticket to the freak show, and when you're born in the United States, you're given a front-row seat." - George Carlin

Effin' Awesome Sweater

Nothing else to say...