The Korean Saying....

that your sister-in-law is scarier than your mother-in-law flashed into my head today as I was scrubbing the bathrooms in preparation for our family coming.  I have awesome sisters-in-law but the reality is that I cleaned those tiles more than I have for anyone else in the past two years.  Troy got a good laugh out of that one.

Yes, Uncle Sam says YOU need to submit your name game vote.  To those of you who already have written in your entries, thank you.  And if you're from Chicago, you may vote early and vote often, since that's what you do anyway.

Competition to Publish Research - Cancer Study

Interesting to think about some of the rigidity associated with specialties in academia...

Here's an example.

Graduation Weekend Rewind

We forgot to mention our trip to Pam's Farmhouse with Mommy and Daddy.  Nothing like a full plate of biscuits and gravy for $3.85!

New (technically, refurbished) Camera

Check out my first test video. If you've got the bandwidth, crank up the resolution from 380 to 720 or 1080 (lower right hand) and go full screen!

Perinatal classes

Over the weekend, we took a crash course in childbirth.  We liked the method of teaching that our instructor utilized.  Her practical, simple yet useful techniques reflected her other role as L&D nurse and previous experience as midwife.  We appreciated her wit and wisdom, and will definitely incorporate what we learned as we face our next hurdle.  Our first session included instructions for the fathers on how to give facial and back massages.  It is definitely a GREAT class  : )

Troy has been an awesome coach, not just with the breathing exercises and back rubs, but now with doing yoga together.  He also is making me listen to Mozart.  I'm getting the idea that he wants me to relax.  For someone who is used to two speeds (fast forward and stop), this slower-paced living takes some adjustment.

True 'dat / Namaste

During my recent efforts to clean and organize, I came across a card from an old friend, and again appreciated the quotation on the front of it.

"Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints on your heart.  To handle yourself, use your head; to handle others, use your heart.  Anger is only one letter short of danger.  If someone betrays you once, it is his fault; if he betrays your twice, it is your fault.  Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people.  He who loses money, loses much; he who loses a friend, loses much more; he who loses faith, loses all.  Beautiful young people are accidents of nature, but beautiful old people are works of art.  Learn from the mistakes of others.  You can't live long enough to make them all yourself... There is no beginning or end.  Yesterday is history.  Tomorrow is mystery.  Today is a gift, that's why they call it the present."  [Unknown]

Yates Mill Pond - a relaxing afternoon

Youngin and I went to Yates Mill Pond, south of Raleigh, on Thursday.  We started with a little Howling Cow (NCSU Dairy) ice cream, then took a nice walk around Yates Mill Pond.  It was amazing to think about the dam and mill being built so many years ago.  The dam and mill suffered extreme damage during hurricane Fran, but have since been restored.

May Bugs

When I saw these bugs in our back yard I immediately thought about mayflies.  But they don't seem to match the mayfly descriptions I found online.

Another reminder

The name game is still open for YOUR input.  Click here and submit your guesses. 

GrAdUaTiOn!!!!!

Dr. Parish, in black, is the advisor who made the decision to let me in to the Civil Engineering program despite my sketchy University of Akron GPA.

Ultrasound - 27 weeks

Baby Gilmore - 27 weeks

Can you name that baby?  Add your guess to our Guessing Game!

Baby Names - Guessing Games UPDATE 1

After tense negotiations with the brunette president of Betty Blonde, we have selected a Betty Blonde item as the Baby Names - Guessing Games prize! 

This contest is certainly not limited to family, so contribute your guesses here!

PS - Male guessers, wouldn't your wife, girlfriend or daughter love some Betty Blonde paraphernalia?

*This message has been approved by the YNC chairperson.

Why didn't I think of that?!

Anyone interested in starting a business?

Win - win situation

He grills, she doesn't.   He cooks, she doesn't.

We're enjoying our summer already with this grill.  Everything we've had so far has cooked perfectly.  Likely, it's the grillmaster who should take credit rather than the grill.

Leadership

Interesting library of leadership videos, but this one is particularly good.  Ken, you might be part-Korean!!

Happy Mama's Day

We're thankful for all moms.... enjoy your day!!

Baby Names - Guessing Games

Youngin's office has started a baby name pool.  It's inspired us to start a baby name pool.  Right here on this blog!  So here are the rules:

The rules?
1.) Guesses have to be entered as comments to this post
2.) One guess per comment
3.) Maximum of five guesses for the first name and five guesses for the middle name (ten total!)
4.) A few people know either the first or middle name.  You can still submit names for the one you don't know, but obviously you shouldn't guess the one you know!

The prize?!
To be determined...

Cork Floor in the Sunroom

Youngin's first Mother's Day gift.

It's a laminate floating floor.  The top layer is cork, which is softer than the typical laminate surface.  I added two coats of water-based polyurethane to seal the seams.

Work Luncheon

It's always fun to try new places!

1099 Rules

This seems really hard to believe, but considering the people who run Washington(both parties), maybe it shouldn't be.

Functioning appliances

Ever wonder why people didn't have too many clothes a century ago?  I think I"ve got the answer.  Because every single stitch of cloth had to be scrubbed by hand and hung up to dry somewhere.   So, obviously the need to wash a shirt, dress or pants after a couple hours of wear would be ridiculous, since it meant a lot of work.  People wore their clothes for longer and washed them less.  I quickly figured this little lesson out during the past week when our dryer quit.  No, I didn't have to hand-wash anything, but trying to find creative ways to dry a load of laundry was fun, given that the outside humidity and bugs prevented any outdoor clothes-hanging.  Thankfully, my wonderful husband was able to fix the dryer and all is well again at our little abode.

Basketball, beach and babies

Our little kindergarten neighbor has excited played basketball nightly with the hoop that his dad set up a couple weeks ago.  His enthusiasm is great to watch!

I'm becoming the paranoid mom already, as I knew would happen.  In preparation for the upcoming beach trip, I've started investing some questions:   Is sunscreen safe in pregnancy?  what about DEET?  Did that woman in Africa really mean to put that much deet on her body every day while pregnant??!!  What's worse, a tick bite or repellent?

And, I'm officially big enough now that no one hesitates to ask if and/or when I'm due.  Even a month ago people would say "um, I'm not sure if I should ask this..."  but this week, it's more like "Congratulations!  When's your due date?"

Who knew that the sensation of being kicked would make me so happy?

Great job, Troy!

It was great to see Troy recognized tonight!  Overall, an outstanding group of students....

How about some good news for a change?

Check out these impressive teenagers!

Week's end

We enjoyed our company the other night, though brief the visit.  Our weekend will surely fly by as Troy is on his home stretch of this final semester and studying for finals!   I'm hoping to finish some spring cleaning (or "nesting," given my situation) and organizing of varied stuff.  Troy's computer room will remain untouched for another 10 days.  We'll be gone most of Sunday, and soon it will be another work week.