Feeling a Little Left Out

Lately, it seems there have been many pop culture "events" creating quite a stir. First it was the series finale of "The Sopranos." Last week it was the release of the final "Harry Potter" book, and this week it's the release of "The Simpsons" movie. Even the iPhone had a week to call its own.

Well, I don't have HBO, have little to no Harry knowledge, less than no desire to see the new movie, and can't afford the payments on the phone.

It's funny, because the BusyBee is actually marginally aware of Harry and the Simpsons, and was very good at manipulating the iPhone we played with at an Apple Store.

I consider myself pretty current on pop culture and visit many websites that regularly contain this type content. I find it a little disappointing when their content revolves around one of these frenzies that I can't get behind, and a little left out.

Though I was happy to hear about the selection of a favorite Journey song for the Sopranos finale. At least that got my attention.

Swimming and Post-School Victories

This summer, the BusyBee is taking swim lessons. I signed her up so that her best friend is in the same class, and this has been just wonderful. Not only do I get to spend half an hour talking with the girl's mother, but both girls are doing really well in the class together. I think they both have more confidence than if they had taken the class on their own, and it's adorable to see them compete and cheer each other on at the same time. Plus, the pool has a strict swim cap rule, and they look just adorable.

This past weekend I managed to fit into my own bathing suit and took the BusyBee swimming on my own. I really do like getting to play in the water with her, and she likes me being her "teacher." I hope we get to keep doing it.

The last four weeks have been very busy. First I finished my last class (and got an A, thank you very much!). The next day my parents came to Boston for a whirlwind shopping visit. After they left, I had a few nights in a row that I was out of the house, and then some visits with Mr. Bee's family this past weekend. Finally on Sunday afternoon I got a little downtime, by which I mean "time to do all the laundry." I can't remember the last time I got all of the laundry done, folded and put away by 6 o'clock on a Sunday night, so I'm chalking that up to my first "post-school" victory. But the fact that I've been able to do so much in the last two weeks is obviously a post-school victory too.

Mr. Bee keeps reminding/kidding me that I need to do my homework. Being in grad school has been part of my identity for so long, that I just feel like I've got a little break before the next class starts up. I wonder when it will really hit me that it's all over.

And now for the big announcement

I am pregnant.

Twelve-weeks, told-my-bosses, had-an-ultrasound, wearing-maternity-clothes pregnant.

Due right around the BusyBee's 4th birthday.

I am very happy about this baby. We're as ready for a 2nd child as I think we can be. But right now, I'm mostly feeling frustrated.

My biggest issue is maternity clothes and how I feel like I need more of them. I hate the thought of wearing the same few shirts over and over again. Being plus size means there aren't many options out there, particularly in tops that will be good for work purposes. I did luck out on a shopping trip a few weeks ago and bought some things, but am still feeling under prepared.

Then there's my commute. My regular train route is being altered for the summer to accommodate track work, and they are busing. This is bad enough. But today was the kick off of my "Give me your seat, I'm pregnant!" MBTA campaign. So far it's People Who Pretend Not to Notice - 1, pregnant me - 0. I had to stand on both the train and bus portions of my schlep home. This is not fun.

I want a new purse too.

Am I feeling a bit emotional, slightly irrational? You bet. It's going to be a long six more months.

PS: The BusyBee is very excited about the baby. She has lots of logistical questions about taking the baby to stores, school, etc. She also thinks it's hysterical that the baby "eats" my food and "drinks" my water. She can't wait to be a big sister, and I am happy for her.

"You're welcome."

I don't know why, but I have the hardest time uttering those three syllables. Whenever I accomplish a task for someone, especially a boss, I reply with "It was no problem at all, really." I guess I don't want them to think there's anything I can't handle. But the truth of the matter is that some of these tasks are rather difficult/time-consuming/boring. I should be able to accept their gratitude with a simple "you're welcome" instead of insinuating "sure, feel free to give me all the junk you don't feel like doing, I'll take it on no matter what." I don't even know how I developed this pattern, but lately, I've been very conscious that I'm saying it, and yet I can't seem to stop. I've never been very good at accepting compliments either.

In other news, this stuff about the computers crashing on the space station is rather scary. It's not getting much press what with all the Paris Hilton prison musings and all, but I really wish people cared more about these things. I feel for NASA and the Russian space program, partly because I have studied some of their bigger disasters in business school (which might explain why I am more aware of this issue than some). The idea of solving this problem is so daunting to me: the experts aren't there with them on the station, and they have such limited ability to fix things from a distance. Indeed, they have no real way of knowing just what it causing the error with so much technology involved. Who knows what tiny aspect is throwing everything off?

I guess if they can successfully pull it off and the station does not need to be evacuated, we all owe them gratitude. Hopefully they'll know how to say, "you're welcome."

Different MBA Perspectives

After a three-plus year break, I am currently taking an actual Finance course. I have tried to take more of the courses relating to organizational behavior and strategy, and I think this has given me a good understanding of how companies work.

In the Finance courses, learning is much more narrow in scope. I am taking a course on fixed income investments, and, to be frank, it's kicking my ass. I'm having to invest a lot of time for what I consider to be very little return. Somehow, I guess I forgot to do the present value calculation on this course before enrolling.

(Actually - I didn't have many options. Seeing as this is my very last class in the program, I've taken almost everything. And summer offerings are always slim.)

I could have done a concentration in Finance, and I think I would then understand a lot about how to finance company operations. But would I have such a universal view? Would I know how to motivate the people behind the spreadsheets and debt offerings? Would I understand the operations and marketing pressures? I'm not sure that I would. Hopefully, someday I'll have an opportunity to use this broader knowledge base.

We'll soon be heading to a Village Day celebration in our town, with some of our neighbors. Their five-year-old son is so good to the BusyBee, incredibly patient with her. He doesn't seem to notice that she's three, and can't quite keep up with him. He'll be a big brother in the coming weeks, and his dad says it's good big brother training. The BusyBee won't need any big sister training - she's raring to go.

A Long Weekend

I love three-day weekends, especially one like this one. There is just so much more time to get things done, and I don't feel like I have to sacrifice fun activities for laundry and homework. Not that I've gotten very far on my homework yet. But I did get new shoes and a haircut for the BusyBee, both of which have been necessary for a while now.

Not much else of note has been happening, just busy as usual. Class two nights a week is a major time drain. The BusyBee also attended back-up daycare for two days this past week, while her school was closed for Shavuot. The extra schlepping of her and all her stuff is hard on me, but the change in routine is much harder on her. Fortunately, she handled it like a pro. Funny how sometimes she can roll with the punches, and other times is totally inflexible.

Tomorrow we're planning to attend the Hopper exhibit at the MFA. Should be a good way to avoid a rainy day. And there's still that homework to get to.

Enjoy the start of summer.

On Being Sick

I have had a very bad cold this week.

I felt lethargic all day Monday while at work, and on Tuesday I woke up without a voice. I stayed at home on the couch all day Tuesday and most of Wednesday (had to attend the BusyBee's Mother's Day breakfast at daycare). I even had a fever.

Being sick is not such an unusual experience for me. I seem to get run down and worn out more and more often. At first I would chalk it up to germs brought home by the BusyBee, but this time, I think I just got sick on my own.

The hardest part is the coughing. My coughs can sometimes drag on for weeks. Co-workers tend to get very annoyed, but it's not as if I can stay home with just a cough. The second issue is everyone giving me advice on how better to take care of myself. I try to be nice about it, but I hate that part of being sick more than the rest of it combined.

While colds are a universal experience, there is truly the mother of universal experiences that trumps it. When I was pregnant with the BusyBee, I was stunned by how universal pregnancy is. Even men had comments on my situation. My favorite interaction was in a CVS when Mr. Bee and I stopped to pick up a few things. As I was paying, the clerk noticed we were buying Tums, and assumed they were for a very pregnant me. She told me that heartburn meant the baby had a lot of hair. Well, the BusyBee did in fact have a lot of hair when she arrived, but I don't think it was causing Mr. Bee's upset stomach.

For Mother's Day, the BusyBee made me a great frame with a cute picture of herself at daycare. The frame is purple, of course, since that is her favorite color. It show her "smile-on-command" face, which results in very squinted eyes. I love it.

Happy Mother's Day, everyone.