quedstions & searh

this is somewhat tacky, somewhat just what i do 'cause i don't like to let go of certain things and mostly because i don't like to ask for help: i'm creating invitations for our open house/shower (that my sister and bri are having for us) and halfway through printing and putting stamps on these postcards, i noticed two errors. i misspelled 'questions' and my sister's name. i'm thinking the font is weird enough that people might overlook it, but really i feel like an idiot.

isn't this supposed to be my specialty? i spent four years learning how to write and edit and now i've screwed this up. and what makes it worse is i have to feed these through the printer individually, so if i do decide to correct this error it means at least three more hours in front of the computer, monotonously typing in addresses and sliding little blue postcards through the printer. ugh -- what a moral dilemma.

tell me what i want to hear

tonight was one of those nights where i think we're going to be alright as parents. but then i have to remind myself that miles and isobel are amazing because their parents are amazing.

while galadriel went to a meeting to help battered and abused women, luke and the kids came over for dinner and some home improvements. as i'm standing in the kitchen getting dinner ready i hear miles' little voice from out on the sun porch, "you're one of my best friends, tom." and every time tom brings out something and puts it on the table isobel whispers, "thanks, tom." no sooner had i sat down then miles is thanking me for the food. isobel, of course, thanks tom again.

we eat dinner peacefully, no spills or fusses, and then it's time to color. isobel favors pink and purple, gathering all the crayons of those colors to her side of the table, while miles sticks with the red and orange colored pencils. we draw hearts and dragons, dragons mostly, and come to think of it, i do most of the drawing, but they're so happy that i'm using their favorite colors that it doesn't matter that my dragon doesn't look exactly like the one on the box and that my hearts are a little mishapen. and while miles and i finish our dragon, isobel is putting all of her crayons back in the box. without being told to do so.

having a sweet tooth myself, i offer them their choice of blow pop or tootsie roll pop. miles takes the red tootsie roll and isobel takes the purple one, of course. miles, being the responsible three year old, asks his dad if it's okay for them to have the suckers. and after telling both me and luke that she can unwrap the sucker herself, isobel eventually gets too eager and asks for help.

so hats off to the thompson parents -- they have succeeded at something most people can't even imagine. they have two, soon to be three, beautiful children, who respect adults other than their parents, know how to share with each other, and even pick up after themselves. and of course, say all the right things.

sweatpants are good

i woke up this morning and realized, i need to shower. isn't that scary? i won't tell you how long it had been, but it felt good. absence does make the heart grow fonder. and as i was getting dressed i looked at my belly and said, i want to be really comfortable today (by the way, com-fort-able should always be pronounced as such, not com-frtbul). i opened up the closet and ta-dah, these black addidas-looking pants were hanging there, on loan from my sister-in-law. and they are just what the massive belly ordered. i don't think i can get any bigger, which is good, 'cause i'm wearing these pants every day till this baby comes. at least around the house...

also, i'm trying to get the business organized and i am realizing how poorly large businesses run things. they make it so hard for the little guys to really make any headway. example: yesterday tom and i went to a large furniture store (one that boasts it's four football fields big) looking for various items. we found a fantastic rocker, maybe a bit expensive, but very much our taste. when we asked a sales clerk for some assistance it turned into such a fiasco. it ended up with me saying, we'll just look around and see what we find. thanks...

but then the real trouble started. we're switching furniture around for the baby and realized, maybe we should recycle for him and get a new dresser for us. we found a dresser that would work so well in our room, the right color, the right size, the right price. it was a perfect solution until we were told that a) the dresser we were interested in could not be purchased for the price that was shown, b) we could order it for more money ("but it's still a great deal"), and c) the only way we could get the dresser for the price that was advertised was if we bought the whole bedroom set ("we can't sell individual pieces, because who wants part of a bedroom set?" um, we do, that's who, idiot) . so i was frustrated after hours of looking and then thinking we've found what we're looking for and THEN we run into this bozo with his false advertising.

after working for a small business and now with another small business, i expect more out of customer service. i refuse to believe the world is full of idiots, but recently i have not had enough proof to show otherwise. garage sales and second-hand stores are still the best places to get what you want.

just to show off

this is abbie again. i love this munchkin so much. i got to hang out with her friday and i have to say, if the lord blesses us with a child like abbie, i will forever be thankful. she has the sweetest temperment; she only fusses when she's hungry (she's a franz girl) and she just loves being with people, even if they're not completely focused on her. we played with blocks, and talked about animals and then cuddled while watching baby einstein. the night was rounded off with some mac-n-cheese and asparagus. that girl can chow down. then james came home and as i was leaving all i could hear was this hilarious exchange, with james saying, "ABBIE!" and her saying "DAH-DAH!" right back at him. back and forth. so cute.

come on out baby

who knew 9 months could look this good. in this picture candra is three days from having her son, alexander william. (born this saturday evening) doesn't she look incredible? galadriel's got about 6 weeks and i'm pushing 11. all boys. they will be best friends and true trouble-makers. just check out their fathers...

it's been so long since i've had anything to say. i think this baby is sucking out my brains. and i've been on social overload. so saturday, after a morning of cleaning out the to-be-play room, i threw up and stayed on the couch. watched my favorite wizards player score an own goal, which hurts tremendously, then slept.

truly i wish my belly would get bigger. i've been in this miserable state of maximum capacity, where he's pushing into my ribs and making my esophogus do disgusting things and all i know is, i'm ready for this guy to make his appearance. 11 weeks to go.

so candra and andy had their little booger this weekend, and he is cute. at least in the pictures. dark hair and great little features for being so new to the world. i don't know if i can do this feeling of expectance for another two months or more. how grueling. i suppose i've gone into enough detail about the "joys" of pregnancy, but the shine has worn off and now i want my son.

My Soccer Journey

I still remember watching my first World Cup in Italia '90. (I may have watched some of Mexico '86, but I don't remember). I only remember the games on the USA network and they would cut to commercials throughout the game. When the game would come back on, there was often one or two goals scored...bad luck for the viewer I guess? In the '94 Cup in the USA, the television innovaters in the US used our marketing genius to put the score and advertisements in the corner of the tele-screen during games to prevent interuption (something all sports would steal from soccer).

By this time, the Blake family was well on their way from transitioning from a basketball family to a soccer family (a little discussed movement in the Michael Blake family). The round of 16 loss to Brazil on Independence Day set a precedent for Blake holidays and hangouts as the family gathered to cheer our nation to victory. The precendent was also set as the Jason Blake ran "Masterpiece Painting" (who happened to employee Tom and Paul Blake) focused on the games instead of their work. (Good thing we were saving for college since we were in the 5th grade....true story).

The MLS kicked off the inaugural season (with my college team playing before the first Wiz
game of all time) shortly after the World Cup; and mom and dad had season tickets with mom bringing her yellow card to the games to show off to the opposing teams when necessary.

Jason actually paid for cable for the 1998 games in France (good thing France hosted so they could qualify). Jason and I claimed to have watched every single game; but mom and dad's professional soccer enthusiasm began to wane as they focused on Susan's rising soccer career and skills (thanks in large part to her club coach).

And who can forget the early mornings/late evenings for Japan/Korea 2002? Leah and I began our relationship during the hermit-like season that is the month of a World Cup. After Brazil lifted the trophy, I knew she was the one because we were still dating (I was also playing twice a week). Plus, it was a quarter final finish for the USA (we should have made it to the semifinals if not for the German hand ball on the goal line that was never called) so Leah was destined to be a fan of the world's most popular sport. We got cable at my house in the hood with Nate and Seth and then cancelled the cable shortly after the games, but we still had free cable until the day they sold the house...life in the hood is good...plus it was free rent (I miss Luna).

Well, soccer has come a long way in the US, and I am glad to be alive during the "birthing process" (Wyatt William will be born around thanksgiving time). MLS has almost completed its 10th season and the Wizards were the champions in 2000. My best understanding is that the Wizards will get a new stadium in Johnson County and an ownership group that stands behind us. Not a bad place to "raise your kids on Wizards soccer" (Leah Blake).

And, as of Saturday night, the US men's national team, your red, white, and blues, have qualified for the World Cup next June in Germany. We beat Mexico 2-0 to finish a qualifying campaign that has lasted about 2 years. Well done Yanks...and Go USA! (this is about as patriotic as I ever get...so enjoy).

The Art of The Little White Ball

Once upon a time, there was this little ball. And all he wanted to do was to go into this little hole. It seems very simple. It looks pretty easy on the tele (that's for you Andy). But, NOOOOOOOOOO sir. Mr. "I love playing all sports" found a very interesting challenge. I mean, I knew it would be difficult, but I didn't think it would be THIS difficult. Mark (Armstrong..shout out to Iowa) is shooting in the 80's and I am still in the $@&*'s. I actually have two really good teachers in my dad and Rod (my father in-law). But, like any good sport, it is not something you pick up over night.

It's also my observation that golf brings out a unique side to most people's personality. Little did I know the openness that the little white ball reveals. Who would have known how emotinal my dad would get during a round of golf? I have already decided that taking up golf is worth it just to play with my dad.

It's a simple game really and I am not even good enough to talk trash yet, which makes me feel way below average. I've also learned that in golf, you have to pick and choose when you talk trash. Example: guy tees off and skulls the ball which doesn't get past the ladies tee. This is not a good time to make fun. It seems to me that after 3-4 holes you start making cracks about overall scores and the number of 3-putts the other guy has had etc. (or you throw pink tees and markers throughout the rest of the game as Paul supposedly does (yes Megan, he's real). It's a finer point to the game, but something that with practice I think I will be able to master....the art of talking trash on the golf course that it. The only problem is that my game has to be a heck of a lot better before I can even begin my favorite art.

not the man

sorry everyone, that's not tom. it's a really funny picture that luke sent when the guys were talking about pompadours, but then chickened out of the style. i guess only a real man like johnny cash could pull something like that off. now they're just faux-hawkers like a lot of the world.

but tom's brother paul is thinking of going with the beckham-like mullet. i'm not sold, i'm a little nervous about it really. paul's a good looking guy, but a short-long is risky. it'll either make or break the dating scene for him. good luck paul.

where's my husband?

aren't you all curious as to why tom doesn't post? he's the one who started this whole canoe americana blog and now it seems that it's strictly me posting. frankly i'm a little disappointed that he hasn't taken advantage of this media. he's got opinions, and stories, and life experiences that he could share -- so why doesn't he?

for instance, in the last week, he's taught our dog how to "bring the paper" on a somewhat consistent basis, as well as lay on her side when he shoots her with his pretend gun and says "bang." that's really impressive right?

or he could talk about the controversy on the bigsoccer postings -- how these younguns think they know soccer, but clearly have no clue when they say bo oshonyi is a better keeper than tony meola. they love to rip into tom with stats and whatnot, but stats don't mean anything unless you're watching the game. and they called his brother paul a name, which is just hilarious because who calls people names when they're trying to prove a point? nevermind what they called him. they're mere children in the world's oldest sport.

and speaking of -- tom insists that the wave (where everyone stands up in a tidal-like motion at sporting events) originated in mexico and that it is actually called the "mexican wave." and also says that he hasn't done the wave at the k, during a royals game. are you kidding me? who hasn't done the wave at kaufman stadium?

so here are some topics i wish he would talk about, as well as many other things. like becoming a father, or taking a vacation with my family (scary?), or anything else that people blog about. (thanks for the photo, luke)

be still my beating heart

i know he has a new movie coming out, but currently tom & i are watching "quick change" which he helped write and direct, as well as star in, of course. he's a clown holding up a bank. even in 1990 he was a deadpan actor, just on the brink of becoming a cutely depressed old man. and i love him.

every time we see bill murray tom reminds me that his own looks are wasted on me. he's convinced that he could be a wrinkly, saggy-mouthed middle-aged man but maintain his sense of humor and i'd love him the same. he may be right. it's so much more important to laugh every day then think to yourself, man, my husband's hot. in twenty years he probably will be a wrinkly, saggy-mouthed middle-aged man. but he'll still say funny things, and do funny things and that's what i need - to laugh every day. several times. if not all day long.

camera shy

i'm trying to find the best camera for the buck. my sister says i want a fancy one, definitely with slr. perhaps a canon powershot 3.2-megapixel or kodak easyshare 5.0-megapixel. or even a canon eos digital rebel. i was looking at a fuji fine-pix 6.3 or a minolta dimage 6.0. if i go with say, a fuji fine-pix 4.0 i get the speedy shutter, but i sacrifice the enlargement. if i get the fuji fine-pix i get the enlargements but lose the shutter speed, right?

and i have a nice minolta maxxum 300si. it's a great manual camera, but big, and i tend to leave it at home because of its size. do you have a camera you like? something that you take a ton of pictures with, and can reproduce/zoom/take pictures quickly with high quality? i'm itching to get this camera before the baby comes, which means i have 3 & 1/2 months.

and some might know that i LOATHE canon; supposedly they're the best on the market as far as professional photography is concerened, but both kelly and sarah have had terrible luck with them breaking. and on top of that, their customer service lacks in every area, except in being frustrating. but if i get my camera from best buy then i can get a protection policy, which means they'll take care of everything and pretty much hand me a new camera. i hate to admit it, i really like best buy. but not canon. (thus no link, bad camera company)

you taste good boss

i love to cook, mostly because i love to eat. and i love to eat because both of my parents are great cooks. i've found that i cook more like my mom, sticking close to tried & true recipes that always please. my dad is fancier, watching the cooking shows and then emulating them in amazing ways. and i'll eat everything, except veal, which is morally wrong and depressing and every time someone orders it or eats it i think about this sad little baby cow carcass i saw my senior year of high school at alex's lake house. it was just the remnants, bone and fur, and really small. sad, huh? don't you feel bad?

anyway, if you have great recipes, let me know. i can always use some suggestions. and i'll try anything once. i know a lot of you out there cook. from fried fish to chicken tortilla soup to lemon bars, i'll take it.

some of you might wonder, does tom cook? no, i won't let him. i have trust issues in the kitchen and therefore usually refuse to let others around the sink and stove. only family and close friends can really step into that arena. and while tom definitely fits into that category, he doesn't love the kitchen like i do. but he can make some mean pancakes.

manager-ess

i've officially changed positions from "office manager" at kelly jackson photography to "office manager" at associated benefits manager . tom and i get to work together now, and i still get to spend some time with the girls at kjphoto. it'll be a nice change going from one house to the other; messing with files and insurance to retouching good-looking people.

i think i'm getting more done now than before because subconsciously i have more flex time. i'm able to plan lunch dates with friends and little appointments here and there for, oh, wahtever. how do people have 5-day a week, 8/9-hour a day jobs? how do you go full force and then go home and do more? so far i've gotten lunch made, laundry done, kitchen cleaned and my office moved and set up. i feel accomplished. hopefully it'll feel like this every day. otherwise i'll end up on the couch watching bridezillas or dog the bount hunter (which is really worth checking out).

low-fi

since my brother spoiled me for my birthday i've gotten to listen to new music. and since luke has been exposing me to the new hits of the day, i've noticed a trend in this new music. lou barlow is cropping up all over the place. as i was listening to "mix for another man's wife" i could have sworn that instead of interpol i was listening to the former frontman of sebadoh. and then i got the new snow patrol, and this gary lightbody guy could be the understudy for mr. barlow. not only do the vocals sound so familiar, but the guitars have a mellow mood to them, no matter how loud they get. it's great music, capable of going along with a rainy day like today, or good for a mix for a friend going to the gym. the beats are solid, but it's the voice that really makes the music wonderful.

i talked with my brother about this common-denominator. he said it's called "low-fi"; something started in the early 90's but that got passed over for grunge. lonely guys with guitars and four-tracks recording different music not quite for the masses. the best thing i can tell you is, check out this and you'll see what i mean. or go here. and you can check out interpol and snow patrol; they're really good, too. but never forget who started it.

gallery extravaganza

last night my "boss" had a "gallery" show at her parents house. really it was an excuse to get people together to eat, drink and look at pictures. the dining room was filled with pictures taken in italy, by both her and her father. we all voted on our top five and supposedly we get one of the fabulous pictures.

the best part of the night was seeing some great women. i went with megan, which was a good start, except that we spent 30 minutes driving around the house where we work trying to make sense of the fact that 95th street turns into colburn road (you have to get on bannister first...). when we arrived the first people i saw were my sister and her beautiful daughter! i can't ever get enough of that family.

and then i saw the martins; if they had a link i'd hook you up so you could see how great they are. i actually saw ron just recently, but this time he had the stitches out of his icky index finger. i swear, i think that man has more injuries than any other person i know. right janet? and speaking of janet, let's take a vote. she's a beautiful woman, gorgeous eyes and great skin, but she thinks she gets to just cut her hair off whenever she wants. she's got incredible hair: nice, slight curl and best of all, it's soft grey like emmylou harris'. i would kill for that hair. so all in favor of letting it grow, say AYE! and i've decided that when tom and i have a teenage son, i want him to be as great as tyler martin, who also has great curly hair, although his is red, like his father's. he's super smart, cute as all get out, and relates to women in an uncanny way -- it must be the combination of a great father and a close relationship with his mother. so yay for the martins! i love you. and if you move to alaska, ron, janet can move in with me.

big boy

so here's an attempt at a close up, and a picture of his profile and arm. i think he's going to be into music, he looks like he's conducting. or doing karate.

engaging day

today was a whopper! not only did we see our baby for the first time, it was our niece's first birthday and AND tom's sister got engaged! eric, her husband-to-be, put together the most elaborate treasure hunt/amazing race imagined. he timed it perfectly, dropping off accomplices at their destinations, clues in hand, stalling tactics ready to go. i'm so amazed at what a guy eric is, planning details like making sure she had something to eat before the fiasco began, to a change of clothes, to travel time with some good friends, he thought it through and then let susan do the rest. at the end of the day there was an amazing ring (a fatty band with a gazillion diamonds and then little flowers in the middle with more diamonds -- shockingly gorgeous but very simple susan) and a fabulous man. they say a good man is hard to find, but around here they seem to be in abundance; i can't get away from them.

now my only job is to hook up the great single guys with all my great single girls...applications accepted.

baby oh baby

two arms, two legs, one penis. that's our boy!!! he's a healthy 15 oz, and i've gained 8 pounds. kind of ironic since that's how much galadriel gained since her last visit. no names officially, any suggestions? grandpa wanted zeke, mom's pulling for raymie. we're open for options. but if there's a junior involved we expect to see some college funds.

there really is a baby inside of me, with a heart pumping and hands moving around. we got to see him swallow, and he's got fluid in his throat and kidneys. the doctor said she saw everything she wanted to see and nothing she didn't want to see. and that's good, right?

--sorry the pictures are so bad. we'll try again later. the second picture proves it's a boy. can you tell?

baby will be gendered

tomorrow we get to see the baby inside my belly. i'm crossing my fingers that the baby isn't modest and will show us the goods. i've had so many dreams where the sonographer can't tell if it's a boy or a girl and the doctor tells us, it's a really inaccurate thing, these sonograms. i'm already calling it "him"; at first because it seemed genderless, like the biblical he, but now i do think we're having a boy. and i'm crossing my fingers that i'll be able to scan the sonogram so you all can see the "little buddy" or the "hey cutie". stay tuned...

i do work, i promise

today we had '80's movie day at work. we watched "labyrinth", with david bowie and jennifer connelly. actually on the back they're listed in reverse order, which is wrong because at the time (1986) who was jennifer connelly? this movie is way too scary for younger children, and megan and i realized we were 7 at the time it came out, so it must have been later in life, around 5th grade, that we discovered it. i remember having slumber parties at kelly pickett's house and watching it. jim hensen does an amazing job with the goblins and everything else. check this movie out.

also, we watched (are still in the process of watching) "the color of money." timeless paul newman tries to show weasely tom cruise how to hustle people. this is a favorite movie of megan's friend david, a panera man, so we decided to give it a viewing. now, paul newman doesn't take his shirt off in this movie (try "the long hot summer") but the man looks good. i love him. i think one day my tom will look like paul newman; he will age well i'm sure. and the blue eyes are a perfect fit. now if only he could make cookies the way mr. newman does...