Bearshorty's musings

This week went quickly despite mostly just being home, and going for a walk in the morning before it gets too hot. I am getting a little restless but I know it would get super busy soon, so I just need to be patient. I hit 37 weeks of pregnancy yesterday, which is a good milestone since the baby is now considered early term. She is a big baby too - at last doctor's appointment on Tuesday, they approximated that she weighs 6 pounds 7 ounces already. (She is not even born yet and already people are making comments on appropriate weight and her looks - like whether the sonogram showed a long nose or not, like it matters. Argh. Even fetuses can't escape all the pressure put on girls in our culture).

Last Sunday, Bear and I got to do something different. Marianna, Adama and little Galya came to Brooklyn, since they got a car now and it is easier for then to travel (especially with Marianna being in the last month of pregnancy too). We went to a Uzbek restaurant called "Nargis," which was super delicious. The chicken kebob was so soft and melting in the mouth. Then, after dropping leftovers at home, we met up again at Coney Island. Bear wanted to go on the new rollercoaster, but the line was too long, so he went on a different one and Marianna and Adama took Galya on all kinds of children's rides. She is a pretty fierce 3 year old - she was not afraid of any high rides even.

This week I'm trying to finish the book "Hild." I have 60 pages left and will probably finish it today, tomorrow at the latest. The use of horses in the 7th century fighting in Anglo-Saxon England is driving me a little nuts but I do like the atmosphere she creates. And I like that the main character is bisexual, which is not usual in the popular books. But still, I continued reading it only because it was a present, it is not my favorite historical fiction by any account. Mostly because Hild, as a child, is written older than her age.

I've also started watching "Supernatural" again. I'm in the middle of Season 7, after a month hiatus. And more "Star Trek: TOS" with dinner with Bear.

And, of course, I'm cooking. I tried two new recipes this week - risotto and pasta bake. Both came out very well. With left over chicken stock from risotto, I improvised a soup with vegetables and vermicelli. I make chicken legs and cabbage stir fry. And I baked butterscotch brownies and banana muffin/bread from my trusty Betty Crocker cookbook. I was going to do chocolate chip cookies but banana were going too mushy and I didn't want to waste it. When my Mom was here last Tuesday to go to the doctor with me, we were looking over various baking recipes, and picked some to try next week, when I'll go over to stay with my parents next weekend while Bear is at work. And my parents went to a farm yesterday to gather peaches, so I'm going to make a peach cobbler too. Can't wait.

I woke up at 5am and couldn't really go back to sleep. That happens a lot lately. That and falling asleep early. I'll probably just go to sleep right after the "Supernatural" Season 9 finale. (I'm in the middle of Season 6 on Netflix watch but I did watch Season 9 live this year, which was sometimes strange).

Today was such a fantastic day. Sunny, 75F and I actually need to get sunblock to sit outside and to go for a walk. I had breakfast with Bear before he left for work and then sat on the back porch for a bit. Bear's parents were going to some church thing for a little bit on this lake so they offered for me to come with and just walk around or sit on a bench by the lake while they did the church thing and then we would go food shopping. Which sounded perfect on a day like today. I was even wearing a dress - it was just so summery. I walked around a little bit and called and talked to Yeva a bit. And then it was time for the store. I can't walk around for a long time anymore, my lower abdomen starts to pull from all the weight - third trimester is certainly bringing lots of new issues - but it was still really nice to be outside and even to go shopping.

After lunch I was on the back porch again, reading. I'm still reading Hild , I don't want to give it up since it was a present - so I figure a chapter a day will be fine to read. I've also started Mansfield Park which is the only Jane Austen book I haven't read yet. I've seen enough movie adaptations to have a sense of the plot - I know the main character is not that interesting, but I'm enjoying the subtle humor of the book so far, and, of course, Mrs, Norris is a very familiar type of person. So I'll read those two for now.