Bearshorty's musings

I'm watching the Olympic Opening Ceremony right now. The parade of nations. I love the Parade of Nations. It's just fun seeing different uniforms and so many excited people. And a geography review! And I can blog while it's going on. I watched the first 20 minutes of Opening Ceremonies (NBC stared it an hour late to fit 8pm primetime, I missed the Olympic music theme on NBC), and then had to go put Tanya to bed. I had my phone with me so as she was settling down I downloaded the only app you can watch the Olympics on the the US: NBC Sports. Then I was generously given 30 minutes of Temporary Pass so I can watch the Ceremony that was airing free on TV. After that, one has to input their cable provider details to keep watching. We don't have cable. We have just internet and Netflix, which is more than enough. The last Olympics (Winter 2014) I watched online was with my parents' password but they cancelled cable this year too because it was getting too expensive. I couldn't sneak out of the room until 9:40 since Tanya had trouble falling asleep, so I missed Belarus walking. I did find a clip on YouTube though. I will watch letters C on live, which is great. I just really don't like NBC viewing policies. I wish they set up a way to pay for Olympic Access - I would pay $20 to watch, for example. Anyway, yay Olympics. I love Olympics. I was wearing my USA Olympic T-Shirt all day. I got it in 2008 and I usually just wear it on 4th of July and during Olympics.

This weekend is going to be nice and quiet and I'm looking forward to that. We have no plans, we won't have to go anywhere, unlike last weekend. Last Saturday we went to the playground in the morning, managed to have Tanya nap for a hour before waking her up to take a train to Long Island City. We went to a Thai restaurant, Tuk-Tuk, to celebrate Tanya's and Ida's 2nd birthdays with Marianna and her family, her Dad, sister and brother-in-law, Yeva and my friend Olya. (Tanya and Ida, Marianna's youngest daughter, were born two days apart). Tanya behaved well on an hour train ride and we had a really good time at the restaurant. (Well, she did get a little bored after eating her rice - she demanded her rice - and was saying 'domoi, domoi' or 'home, home' for a bit but then she went to play and color with Galya and Ida and was running around a little). The food was delicious, it was great to hang out and I haven't seen my friend Olya since the last year's birthday party, so it was really great to catch up. We were hoping to go to the playground with the views of Manhattan after, but it was pouring rain, so we just took the subway back.

I've noticed that lately I've been getting more and more anxious if we have to go somewhere. I hate being late, always did, and I usually plan well, but I catch myself getting more snappy and stressed when we have to travel. I really need to relax. We got to the restaurant at 3:05 for 3pm meeting time, I planned well and there was a nap. Everything went really, really smoothly. At yet I was stressed up until we got on the first train. I really need to curb it and figure out why it is so much worse lately. (Marianna and I moved the time to 3pm from 2:30pm but didn't tell Yeva on purpose. She got in at reasonable time :) Some people really don't worry about it).

On Sunday, my parents came over in the morning, but it was raining so (Go, Team USA - they just walked in!) we just hung out at home. In the afternoon, Bear, Tanya and I went to visit my grandparents. So the weekend was very nice and it was great to see everyone but a quiet weekend would be really nice.

On Monday, I took Tanya to the pediatrician for her well-visit checkup. We've been practicing with her toy medical kit, so she would know what to expect (she probably forgot since last time). We took it with us too to the delight of Nurse Masha. The visit went very well. Just a little crying during one shot and some crying at the blood test, but soothed well with a lollipop. She's 35 inches (89cm) and almost 27 pounds. Of course, she still recounts getting that blood test five days later, pointing at her vein by the inner elbow and telling us how we went to Doctor Aibolit (a doctor from a children's poem) and Nurse Masha and another Nurse took blood and how Tanya 'plakala, plakala, plakala, plakala i potom uspokoilas' 'cried, cried, cried, cried and then calmed down." And then tells me how we took the bandaid off. She likes to recap her injuries. Like months later she still talks how she fell and scraped her knee, and all her toys fall and have to get pretend wiped with rubbing alcohol.

The rest of my week was pretty ordinary. I finished reading Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children , which was alright but I don't want to read sequels. (I will do a book post this weekend) I started Maurice Druon's She-Wolf . I really missed reading him. His prose is so easy and airy and just lovely to read. I still have 50 minutes of Jonathan Strange to watch. I did watch Minions movie as I did the exercise bike. It was cute but really not necessary. And I've been cross stitching the little owls.

Last week went pretty quickly and I wanted to do a recap of it.

Monday, June 15th was Bear's birthday. It was a pretty quiet day since it was rainy. Bear took a day off from work so we just hung out. I gave him my presents in the morning which ended up being pretty much books - 2 superman graphic novels he wanted, a Shel Silverstein book he was nostalgic about and had on his wishlist, Ethan Watters' "Crazy like Us" (which is about exportation of American cultural concepts of psychological disease to the rest of the world and problems with that - I've taught a chapter about Japan last semester and thought Bear would like it), and Reza Aslan' "Zealot: Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth." We had Malaysian food as take out - I had ginger duck soup, indian pancake and noodles dish. Nice quiet bday.

On Tuesday I had a doctor's appointment (just a yearly check-up), so my Mom came over for that hour. My doctor's office is now all electronic, which happened in Tanya's pediatrician office this year too. My doctor helped me set up an app on my phone as part of the visit. It is pretty cool - by Saturday I could just access my lab work myself on my phone. (Still anemic - my Mom brought me more meat to eat.) It's neat but the potential for hacks is worrisome. Best part - since it was preventive visit, no copay.

On Wednesday, I made turkey meatloaf, eggplant and pasta as part of Bear's birthday week dinner. I wasn't a big fan of meatloaf in the past. I didn't grow up with it. I made it once before and it wasn't that great. But this time it turned out fantastic. I looked at a few recipes online and combined them, kept it in the oven a bit longer and Bear just loved it. I put green pepper in it and fried the onion beforehand. I will definitely make it again. I wrote out the recipe I used in my recipe book.

Thursday and Friday were pretty quiet.

This weekend was really really good.

On Saturday Bear and I had a date - first in like 6 months. My parents came over early and took over Tanya duty and we had a chance to get ready for the day. We left at noon and got back at 7 30. First, we had 'Hedwig' musical on Broadway. We took a subway and ate our sandwiches on the way. Bear almost lost his Grand Canyon hat in the Times Square station but crisis was averted. He paid an extra fare to go back and luckily spotted it. After the musical we wondered around and went to a bookstore. There was a Barnes and Noble nearby. I haven't been to a bookstore in so long, maybe a year and it just wonderful to browse. I even got a new blank notebook on sale.

Then we hit a bit of a snag with the food. I found this Indian place online and the prices looked reasonable on online menu. When we got there the prices on outside menu were only a dollar more so we went in. And it looked nice. But prices on actual menu were $5 higher. So we left. Argh. I hate that move by restaurant. It took us a while to find something else and by then we were short on time. We ended up at a pizza place and I had eggplant parmigian hot sandwich. Not the best option but good enough. We got back to a sleepy baby and it was really nice just to have time out.

On Sunday, Father's Day, we traveled to Long Island for the day to visit Bear's parents. Father's Day is big in his family. Bear himself was born on Father's Day so his family always combines Father's Day with a birthday party. And it was Bear's 1st Father's Day as a Dad. I gave him a card - that is the extent I'm willing to indulge a fake holiday. There was no traffic and we made good time. After Tanya ate, Bear's parents were heading to church. They are very Catholic. And Bear indulges his Mom and goes to church when he visits.(he doesn't mention to her that he doesn't really go anymore). I didn't want to be home alone with Tanya for an hour -I get enough of that during the week - and I figured she likes seeing new places and people - so I decided we would go too. I think it made his mother's day. Tanya did like seeing all the stain glass windows and did pretty well. For me going to church is a social observation thing, although congregation chanting creed is creepy. And I don't mind Tanya being exposed to. She should learn about all religions. We decided long ago that Tanya can pick her own religion if any when she grows up. I'm Jewish and atheist, Bear grew up Catholic and is now agnostic.

Bear's brother and his girlfriend came over in the afternoon. They have chickens and bees so we got eggs and tasty, tasty fresh honey. Yay. There was a nice dinner with steaks. Tanya had some hummus for a snack. There were presents and ice cream cake. We didn't get home until 9 30, and Tanya didn't want to fall asleep in the car until 9, but it was a very nice day overall. Great weekend.

So that was last week. Tomorrow I will do a book post, including Dante chapters from last week.

My Mom showed up at my place at 8am today. We all start our day at 7am every day, sometimes a bit earlier. On Tuesdays when Tanya and I go to my parents' house for the week, my Mom usually comes around 9 so we could quickly pack and travel during nap time. I like a leisurely hour and a half to eat breakfast, wash the dishes and pack my stuff. Bear is busy getting ready to leave for work for half the week too. But today we had to rush a bit because my Mom woke up early and wanted to get ahead of hot weather and traffic.

So I was a bit hectic packing my bag and the kitchen stuff while dealing with paperwork and having Bear sign our lease renewal etc. Busy morning. It is the last week we are doing Tuesday to Saturday at my parents. Next week we are going to Bear's parents for a week for a change. My parents are going on vacation and Bear's parents wanted some time with Tanya too. And since I'm done with the semester I can go there for week now. Then I will just be in my place and cooking.

After a busy early morning and a 30 minute car ride we got to my parents' house and then I took Tanya for her morning nap in the stroller, especially since she didn't sleep in the car. Today was a hot summer day weather but it was still very pleasant 75F in the morning. My parents live in Staten Island, which while it is a New York City borough is very suburban, with mostly private houses. We walk the same quiet streets back and forth and there are not a lot of people about. It is quite nice.

At one o'clock I went to an eye doctor appointment with my old eye doctor. I haven't checked my vision in 4 to 5 years and it was really about time. I wear glasses for nearsightedness and I know my vision got worse. It used to be 3.5 in the right eye and 4 in the left and now it's 4 in the right and 4.5 in the left. I don't think I'm going to get new glasses for a couple of months though; I just wanted to check my eyes in general - they've been feeling tired lately.

When I was a child, I was farsighted and had to wear glasses all the time from age of 6 to 12. I couldn't see much without them. I was the only person in my class with glasses at the time; it wasn't common, so I got my share of being teased for it. Then my vision corrected and from age of 12 to 19 I got to enjoy perfect vision. And then it went the other way and I needed glasses for distance since the second year of college.

Well, my appointment was for 1pm but I didn't get called in until 2 and then had to wait more for the doctor and then wait some more to make another appointment. I didn't leave until 3. It's near my parents' house, I walked there in 10 minutes or so but I was still frustrated since I have to nurse my daughter at 3 and I thought I would have plenty of time. My Mom gave her her veggie and chicken mushy soup, she just had to wait a bit more for milk.

And the worst part was, the eye doctot couldn't do all the tests at once. She just did the basic ones and I have to come back twice more for a visual field test and for dilation. Each doctor visit is $35 copay; even with insurance it's not that cheap. So that 2 hour visit was maybe 10-15 minutes of actual check up and I would have to pay more later. I go back on Friday afternoon.

Now, Tanya is actually sleeping in the crib (at least for a few hours before she wakes up again)- last few nights she just wanted to sleep in my bed curled up to me, holding on to my hair -I'm going to read my Kindle. I'm reading 'Kosmobiolukhi' , a Russian Sci fi book and enjoying it a lot. It is pretty funny.

My Dad, who is a voracious reader, always reads any book I mention or ask him to get for me - he can download books from magic websites - he already read two books in the series and is teasing me a bit about how interesting it will still get. He read Hunger Games in secret when I once told him I was going to read it in passing on our commute. Then he told me he read it and that he has it on his Kindle. I read it on his Kindle when he went on vacation. This was right before he gave me my own for my birthday 4 years ago.

After last week’s break, went back to tutoring today. Valerie just wants someone to chat with. She does need to read more in English but she is the client, so it is really up to her. And it’s not like I mind sitting there and chatting for two hours for almost $50.

I made the appointment for a doctor check up next week, now that I finally have the insurance card. When I had insurance through University, I didn’t really feel comfortable going there for a check up – just for any problems. So it has been a while since I had a blood test. Plus this office is for internal medicine/cardiology, which is good since they would know how to handle my palpitations. Which were acting up today and making me super tired. I really don’t like it when that happens.

The couch magically appeared today. :) Yay. The delivery guys were so fast and efficient with the set-up. They had the drill to attach legs and worked so quickly. My parents got up a sofa-bed, in black fake leather so it is very light and pretty nice. I think I will need to get some little pillows to sit on it but lying down on it is very comfortable. It will definitely make a great guest bed, not that Bear wants to advertise that fact.

( Glee )

This was a morning of chores: bank, post office, doctor’s office. My tests were fine but I need to do more since there are still some slight white cells without an infection and the doctor just wants to rule out as much as possible.

I get a house to myself again for Fourth of July long weekend. My parents left for a mini vacation in Canada (they usually like driving somewhere for 4th of July and I sometimes come along, but not this year since I just went on vacation.)

( SYTYCD Top 16 Perform )

Rhode Island passes a civil-union bill – go Rhode Island.

I had my Doctor’s appointment in the morning. The test was quicker than I thought it would be and not too uncomfortable. I’m just glad to get that done. And the time waiting in the office passed quickly with a book.

On the walk home I did some food shopping. I’m having guests over on Sunday and Bear is staying here from Sunday until Tuesday so I’m thinking up food menus. I’m definitely going to bake banana bread and maybe make baked ziti on Monday. For Sunday I’m thinking stir fry with Thai Red Curry Sauce and a fresh salad and bbq in the afternoon with burgers. I do love having a kitchen to myself.

I do love modern technology. I called parents in France this afternoon from Skype and talked with them for more than 20 minutes for less than a dollar. They are doing a bus tour of Switzerland and French Riviera and visiting a lot of cities. They wanted me to come with them and part of me wishes to visit all those places (I only been to Zurich and Nice) but I’m enjoying my solitude.

Our government newly renewed ability to look up library records and other personal information like that for ‘suspected terrorist activity’ makes me very uncomfortable. Patriot Act is so creepy.

Very true Cracked article: 5 things nobody tells you about being poor.

It is 1:40 in the morning and I just finished reading “Hunger Games.” I think I read half the book just today. After 8pm, I did something I haven’t done in a long time – I turned off the TV and closed my laptop and went into the computer room to its nice couch to read. And I kept reading and reading. It has been a while. But I just did not want to stop. I did take a break to talk to Bear on the phone and then wash the dishes (when I lived by myself I always wash all the dishes right before I go to sleep, it is soothing and I reverted to old patterns) but otherwise I just read.
( thoughts on Hunger Games )

Local College has finally got me the passwords to access the systems and I can look not just at the roster of my students but at their entire schedule. That is creepy

This morning I had my second test at the urologist. This one was a little more nerve wracking and I was happy when it was over. It didn’t take long but it wasn’t the most comfortable and I’m not a fan of pain.

I walked home and I got a bagel with cream cheese at Dunkin Donuts which was delicious.

I’m getting lost in Jack/Ianto – there is a lot of good fic and I’ve been rewatching various scenes. I really need to rewatch all of “Torchwood” since I think I would like Season One much better a second time.

Exercise: 30 min walk

Happy Birthday, Mama! We had lots of birthday food today with salads and candy. As usual she grumbled when actually opening presents but she really liked them and even thanked me for the hand cream in the evening. She really liked the sample they sent too.

I had my doctor’s appointment with an urologist today. Finally seeing a specialist who can actually offer an explanation is priceless. Having a hot intern take my history also didn’t hurt. They think it is just inflammation and there will be a few more tests in January but it is good to actually put a name to what’s been going on.

Since it was Mama’s birthday, my cousin who lives in California called to wish her happy birthday and then they got on Skype so we could see her little seven month old baby Iris. Iris has these gigantic brown eyes.

I ordered the quilt cross-stitch project on Amazon; I didn’t realize they had them. It will save me a trip to a crowded mall to Michaels. Of course, I had to pick one where animals are reading a book. I’m really looking forward to making this. I usually prefer counted cross stitch and this is stamped one, but I like making something specific as a gift.

( Caprica )