I got one! I got one! I scored an Amby baby hammock off Craigslist at a great deal!! Yay!!

*doing the Snoopy happy dance*

Pregnancy going well. It's as good as it gets (23 weeks right now).  I COULD complain a lot (just ask my husband about that) but I'll spare my livejournal buddies the joy/pain of listening.  So, on to practical stuff. I spent several hours today going through my baby stash kept over from CJ in the possible event of having another child. Early on in CJ's life I passed a bunch of stuff on to the baby network and now I'm trying to figure out what I still have versus what I need (ha!) or more accurately want to have for LG. After several hours, I'm not even close to being sure about what I have but there are a few items I know I don't have.

What do I know?
I know that there are few BIG items that I really want.
I know that I would really rather get/buy things second-hand instead of promoting even more consumer consumption and egregious spending by buying these items new.  (Although I admit that I may be a bit of a consumer hypocrite when you see the extravagant items on my list.) 
I know that it is always a good idea to ask around for leads on stuff.
I know my live journal network is great source for advice.

NEED
Breast Pump (electric, please). (I burned out the one I had before.)

WANT
Amby baby hammock or equivalent (So baby sleeps more and cries less)
Baby swing that has an AC adapter (My swing from before seems to be lost in the baby hand-me-down network and I'd rather avoid the massive battery consumption this time around.)
Pram (or even better, a pram that will also accommodate a second older child - age 3)
Babys Dream brand drop-gate crib (I never gave a whit about the crib until I saw the engineering of one of these - *drool*.)


...there is probably more on the tier 2 list of "not so big" items but this is about as far as I've gotten.

I figure I can cruise Craigslist but maybe there are other good options out there...

I usually miss birthdays... really, notoriously bad about it. But today I didn't !!!! yay!!!

So....

Happy Birthday Mayday_Babe and Parlor_Games!!! You both rock!

So, my mother-in-law and sister-in-law live just off Russel St in Berkeley where they go all crazy at Halloween with decorations. So, my sister-in-law decides a couple of years ago that they were going do something unique. She got tired of other houses copying her ideas for decorations. She now creates an enormous Irish tableau for Halloween, complete with Irish music soundtrack. Now, it might sound weird but actually it totally works. There is something halloween creepy about cavorting leprechauns, toadstools and Traditional Irish music.

So this year, because my mom-in-law was a huge Obama supporter, they also had an enormous Obama sign draped across the front of the house right in the middle of the Irish tableau.

I was the one who sat out front and gave out candy at the house this year. Apparently, I'm the member of the family who most enjoys talking to strangers. :-) Anyway, people kept asking me why we had an Irish theme with an Obama sign. And I kept saying that it was because Obama was Irish. Many people laughed and told I was crazy, that he was not Irish. To which I answered, what are you talking about? with a name like O'bama? Of course he's Irish. (Yeah, yeah, yeah, I could have mentioned his mom's family ancestry but that just wasn't nearly as funny in my mind.)

  So on Inauguration night, Skachick and LearnTeach are over and they introduced me to a very special video on YouTube. Filmed in Berkeley and supporting my Halloween argument.

Here it is for those folks who haven't seen it already.

Huge, enormous, prodigious thanks to the great skachick and her husband for throwing a wonderful party last night. Many people gathered at their house for the rebirth of the Tiki bar. Great fun was had. It was a marvelous party.

I know from historical experience that it takes a lot of energy, time and some moolah to throw a party like that so I want to be sure to give them the huge shout out on how AWESOME it is that they do these things.

I LOVE SKACHICK AND HER HUBBY!!!!

YAY FOR TIKI!!!!

I got started on Facebook today. I spent many hours on it and had a blast. Anyone else out there on FB? If I found you, I've already sent you a friend invitation. If I haven't give me a hint, so I can.

Dear Friends,

Save me! I've let my work take over my life. Don't get me wrong, work is going smashingly well. All 60+ hours a week of it. But I'm feeling crushed. There is this fine line between  pressure that I like and the level that leaves me feeling overwhelmed. I needed to work full days this weekend but I just couldn't do it today. I burned out.

I still manage to spend time with my husband and child. They are wonderful. I wish I could be more present with them. It's always a struggle because my family is my priority I WANT my time with them but I must do well at my job because we all depend on both parents incomes to get by. And I want to do well enough that my darling husband can someday quit working to be a full time student for a while.

My job would like to take all my waking hours so that I am never out from under the crushing feeling of hanging by my fingertips from falling into the abyss of disaster.  But somehow I never quite slip too far and somehow things work out and somehow, like an idiot, when that next interesting project comes along that I don't have time for..but just sounds so interesting..I take it anyway. Yes, I am totally at fault for my current situation because my company had to audacity to GIVE ME WHAT I ASKED FOR. Ah, the ungrateful, injustice of it all.

I used to have hobbies. I used to be interesting. I used to be a decent friend. Now I'm one of those lame silicon valley people who have nothing to talk about other than work.

I would be completely lost except for those exceptionally dedicated friends who continually forgive me for be difficult to reach, for not answering their emails and phone messages, for forgetting everything, for not reaching out or following up. Thank god for that small dedicated group of friends. Without you I would be completely lost. For everyone else I just feel guilty and I feel it especially keenly because I've been so intolerant in the past of people who acted exactly the way I currently do.

I miss the SCA. I miss that delightfully rich alternative story that has woven in and out of almost my entire adult life. Even when I show up at events I feel so disconnected...well, because I've become so disconnected.

Somehow I have to get from now through a Thanksgiving product launch, quickly followed by a 1st week of December beta launch without faltering. Then I can collapse.

To my dear friends: keep having fun, keep having life, keep sharing it here. I hang on your words when I get the chance. Forgive me for being absent and for those of you who make the effort to draw me out; I am very grateful.

D

Hell no on 8!

Yes on 2! Be kind to those farm animals.

OBAMAOBAMAOBAMAOBAMAOBAMA

What kinds of parenting, family, household topics do you look up on the Internet?
For example: I find myself online looking up advice columns or articles on whatever developmental stage my daughter is going through. I also look up recommendations for toys or activities popular with her age group. I also find myself digging up Hints from Heloise articles with those old fashioned household tips such as what to do about a stinky drain or those dang water spots on your shower curtain or getting rid of chalk buildup in hard to reach places.

What kinds of parenting, family, household topics do wish you could simply look up on the Internet and don't because either they are a hassle to find or you can't seem to find them when you look or you just don't have time to even search for them...even though you'd like it if it existed?

Do you participate in a moms or dads social group? how about the equivalent online? (ha ha, I know you are all on LiveJournal)

Would you be more interested in reading or trying something because other moms or dads have recommended it?

Are there any parenting or family lifestyle web sites that you already visit on a regular basis?

Thanks to everyone who participated, recommended, referred, and otherwise contributed to my PC Gamer focus group. It was a raging success. The guys were awesome and absolutely perfect examples of my target audience. I have been and will continue to gleefully wield the results from that evening in the face of every doubting Thomas at work who attempts to thwart me and my aims...bwahahahaha! If all goes well, those very helpful guys may have some impact on nearly half a million people's AV decision in the coming year. *fingers crossed that it sells that well*

Now to recruit my next set of influencers! MOMS and DADS UNITE!

I've been asked to create a web portal for parents. I'm given the fun job of coming up with what kinds of information, content, activities, etc should we put on this theoretical portal to make it interesting and compelling enough for parents to visit it on a regular basis.

Here's your chance to get in on the ground floor to influence what my company hopes will be a hugely popular web property. We are not limited to security as a topic. I'm looking for anything appealing to my parental audience.

My specific target audience is Moms with kids between the ages of 8 and 18...but Dads get to participate too. And what the hell, I'll include all parents...you just have to extrapolate "what if your kid was in the target demographic and spent time online" when considering your input?

Join me in a discussion group and if you can in some follow-up gatherings. Beyond my eternal gratitude for your insight and brilliant ideas, I'll ferret out some extra rewards from my corporate overlords to share with the group.

So, WHO'S IN??

Hi,

I need to find half a dozen avid PC gamers for a focus group in San Francisco. I've been working on one of those special projects at work and I've managed to talk the company into actually building a product. Now we need to figure out packaging that won't make our target market barf.

What I'm looking for:
male
age 18 to 34
plays MMORPGs, first person shooters, and/or action games
plays those games on a PC
plays a lot!

What you have to do:
hang out with some packaging designers in San Francisco one evening (probably next week)
give us your opinions on stuff

What I'm offering:
a nice dinner paid for by my company
a gift card worth some cash as a thank you gift
bragging rights that you influenced the packaging for product sold in 42 countries and 22 languages (if you care)
my personal gratitude

I've got 2 signed up so far and need 4 more.

So many intense feelings this year (more so than ever before), much of the time I actively try NOT to think about it. Here's the formula:

Ecstatic and inspired (Obama)
+
Horrified to point of physical illness (Palin)
/
dead even in the polls
=
f-ing terrified and on the emotional roller coaster so intensely that most of the time I can't even talk about it

Highlights

Yay for skachick! Congratulations! "Bird bird bird, bird is the word!"

Amazing to see Brand and Brynn in the semifinals.

It was absolutely the lovely weekend that I had hoped for; being surrounded by loads of wonderful, clever, fun, loving people. And, I met some interesting new additions to our SCAland, plus I got to know some good people better. And did I mention that I rolled around and reveled in the massive good cheer and love of my many friends... Golly! I'm addicted to this.

Someone said it was hot, too...but I was feelin' fine!

Well, it sucks to move but it did kick our butts to look at our options. It looks like it just might be a really good time to buy a house.


Now to find a house fast.


Deadline, May 5th.

We have to move. Our landlords decided not to renew our lease. Boo hoo! I thought they liked us.

Now we have 60 days to find a new place to live.

Wahh! I loved living here.

Ya see, I got this really great new job! Duh, about three months ago. I took the job and then I found out I was going to be responsible for the core product in the consumer business for the company instead of some experimental little technologies and starter products. Oops. What was going to be a nice little challenge, became a BIG challenge. The good news is that it's a great career item and I'm never bored in the job. The bad news is I work too much to take time out for niceties like LJ and I've gained 10 pounds! Ouch! too much easy junk food in the office, methinks.

Anyway, my ostensibly conservative, corporate company has done something funny. In Japan they have invented a corporate super hero (ala Ultra Man style). Check out Norton Fighter! Bring on the camp...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XLPZSHkFjA&feature=related

Everything is going fantastic.

I'm working again, two companies wanted me full time each...so I gave them each half time. I'm now openly polycontractist in addition to those little side projects that come into the "R&D Communications" business side of things. Both contract positions are great, moves ahead career-wise, Yay! The new gig sounds like I have the almost perfect background to prepare me to hit the ground running. And better yet, I'll be working in the same building as kaar_insurance! The other place is an extension of a previous contract (6 more months!) AND more responsibility accompanied by some super feel good kudos from the director. I smell a new professional reference.

I didn't think it was possible for Celestiel to get even cuter! But she's done it. I'm constantly blown away. She's more interactive and more fun everyday. She's kissing now. Tonight as I changed her to get her ready for bed, she was blowing me kisses from the changing table. And, toddler laughter is the best!

The house is in order. My babysitter can start coming on Mondays as well as Wednesdays and Fridays and since she cleans the house as an added benefit when she's here...well, Yay for a clean house!

We signed up for the Hidden Villa fresh organic vegetables weekly delivery and we got our first basket. Wow!!! I had no idea what a big difference there is between fresh from the market and just picked yesterday.  I was so inspired by the spinach that I made an indian dinner for the family tonight just so I could make spinach dahl.

My sweet man spent the weekend working on building me a new bicycle. He's stripped down the beautiful hand built Falcon bike frame donated to us by my uncle and is in the process of harvesting the best parts from two of his old bianchis. When he's done it will be, by far, the nicest bike I've ever had. I can't wait to start riding!

And! I'm starting to really feel the benefts of my new fitness regimen. My clothes are starting to fit looser, I have more energy and strength and my appetite has decreased. Yay!

I bought my airplane tickets to Pennsic. And the trip will be double duty since it will also include a visit to my mom's summer place (where Celestiel will visit and spend time while mommy parties at the war).

Of course there are little glitches in my otherwise perfect world. Celestiel will go in for minor surgery on Tuesday.  Nothing drastic, just a little thing.  And I'm not sure how I'm going to fit my fitness regimen into my new work schedule. And the little pincher bugs are devastating much of my garden. Details...details.

Love to all my friends!! Me = happy.

So our segment got bumped off the schedule for last night's news broadcast due to late breaking news (yes, the SUV crash is what did it). They'll let me know when it will get rescheduled.