A Goal Scheduled for Embarrassment.

I'm just going to let out my secret to the world: I have to lose some inches before I take the plunge (literally.) I went to buy a swimsuit today with Juan and left with nothing but a heavy, heavy heart. Do you think it was the store's fault? No. Stac has officially let herself get... *sniff*... FLUFFY! The drive home was miserable, more for Juan than for me. While I complained about hating to workout, wishing I could get liposuction, and praying for a new diet pill that would melt the inches away in seconds, he suggested the idea of setting a goal. (Don't get me wrong, Juan has been nothing but encouraging about my "current state-of-being", but there's no seeing past the cold, hard truth for me.) So, knowing he was behind me the whole way, I set a goal to work out every weekday, eat according to the Food Pyramid, and maintain an earlier bedtime/wake-up routine. Now, this would be easy to botch up if it were not for the "Loser Clause"; I decided I needed something totally embarrassing to look forward to if I didn't keep up on my goal. So here are the consequences: I will have to put my hair up in a side-ponytail, wear high-tops, and go jogging along West Chester Pike (a busy street near our house,) --in spandex. Juan said that was a little harsh (and the more I think about it, it would be more of a punishment to the drivers who had to see it, and that's not fair.) So the real consequence is that when we visit Utah (and hopefully Las Vegas) in August, we are going swimming and I have to get in the pool. No if's, and's or butt's about it (no, that was not a typo.) To further cement my conviction in completing my goal, I have posted this to the world and in doing so, I will have tripled or quadrupled my embarrassment if I don't accomplish it.

*deep breath*

It's a Thursday and I've Got Boring News and Exciting News.

I don't mind Thursdays because it means we are nearing the weekend... time where laziness is permitted, uh, I mean... time where we can finish projects, clean the house, actually make a fully-balanced meal, etc. We have finished re-finishing the coffee table (thanks to Juan fixing my mistakes) and are on to the dining room table. I've been more excited to see the finished product with this project than the others, but more "dragging-my-heels" at starting it. It's going to take a lot of work. That's the boring news.


Now for the exciting news: Juan got a job at Sears Hardware. It's just the job he was hoping to get for the summer and on into the school year. They are really flexible with hours and are located really close to our new apartment. We're so grateful he got the job because it's really hard finding jobs where you don't have to work Sundays here.


Um, other than that, there's really nothing to blog about (thus the two-day hiatus from the blog.) Siena is pulling herself up to, getting into, crying about, laughing about, babbling about, and pulling out of her hair anything and everything she possibly can.

The Walker

The Answer

Okay, it's really not that juicy, but I'll tell you why I couldn't type more on my post yesterday.

I started my day with going to the doctor. You see, about 5 weeks ago I jammed my hand between my body and the corner on the wall. It was a stupid freak-accident that left me with indescribable pain, more than a usual jammed finger would leave. I couldn't move it a half of an inch without writhing in pain. Well, I splint it that night and the next morning, it felt like nothing had really happened. I was so relieved.

Over the last month, I really thought nothing of it and was just hoping that the soreness would eventually leave. It hasn't. In fact, it has gotten worse. I finally realized that my knuckle "popping" every other time I used my left hand for something was probably not a good thing because the pain increased every time. Yesterday, my knuckle had finally swollen to the size of a big, juicy grape, so I splint it again. Today, when I woke up expecting the same "overnight success", I was left with a motionless finger.

No big deal, though. The doctors took about 20 minutes to deliberate how to handle it and finally concluded that we'll wait another few weeks to see how it turns out before they give me x-rays. Meanwhile I have physical therapy exercises to keep me busy.

There you have it: the most lengthy and hypochondriacal explanation for a hairline fracture or severe sprain. "Why is she able to type a super-long post if she's in such pain?" you may ask. Let me tell you, I've been doing my therapy exercises all day to be able to write it. My readers are very important, you know.

Para Nuestro Querido Papi, Suegro y Abuelo:

Book:

The Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy

I read this book in high school for an English class and decided that it was my favorite novel of all time. I read it again last month and decided that it still is. It's about a man's struggle to keep his friends and good name while his bad temper and many misunderstandings pull him further down from his gain in society, while those around him steadily rise above him due to their own honest (and dishonest) efforts. As dramatic as the book is with all its plots and subplots, I picked up that Hardy had a couple significant issues he was trying to address. The feminist attitude was just surfacing in the Western Hemisphere when Hardy wrote the book; Hardy wanted to indiscreetly give his approval of women's rights through the women characters of his books. Actually, the "hero" of this book was actually a poor girl who had schooled herself to become a learned woman in a society where that was reserved only for the upper class.

Oh, I could go on... but I can't and I'll post why tomorrow.

Banished

In lieu of a despondent sequel to my last post, I will just mention that Siena and I have stayed in her room all day (minus taking pictures of the house for our landlord and grocery shopping.) It's wonderful being shut up in one room, and so far I really mean that. Juan moved the AC unit into her window and we're feeling nice and cool. Her room has become a kitchen, dining room, living room and bedroom for both of us. I've got the computer and she's got her toys. It looks like we'll be doing this for 20 more days.

I'm not abusing the blog...

...I just want to paint a picture for those who haven't experienced "coastal living" yet. (Juan told me that I shouldn't use the blog to complain, and I agree, so feel free to feel sorry for us, but don't feel obligated. Also, I threw in a couple of "good things" on my "bad things" list to offset my guilt.) Did it work? Yes, so here it is:

Humidity Top Ten

1. Frizzy hair
2. "Hotter than it really is"
3. Beautiful, green vegetation everywhere (good thing)
4. Sweaty feet
5. High electric bills
6. Sad baby
7. Hydrated skin and hair (good thing)
8. Moldy bread
9. Soggy chips and cookies
10. Mosquitoes, etc.

You Won't Believe This!

Siena has been standing up by herself for long periods of time lately. Tonight she made a personal record of 23 seconds! We're so proud of our little "Nena". It's cute because she is also proud of herself; she shows us this by clapping her hands together while she's standing. (videos to come....)

Voila!

(I tried out my 80's photo editing skills.) Siena kind-of looks like my little sister Sierra in this pic when she was a baby. The only difference is Sierra's hair was much curlier.

Creepy Crawly

For those who are not yet believers:



Okay, so I had to urge her to crawl by tempting her with my shoe. I don't know why she would rather crawl toward a dirty shoe than a colorful toy, but whatever works, right?

Ride 'Em Cowgirl

We have awesome friends. Before the Beaman's moved, they bequeathed their daughter's zebra toy to Siena, a most grateful recipient. She usually gets really into it, but I couldn't capture her in her "riding mood" on film. The attempt was cute anyway.

key word: PROJECT

Today was a big day at the Chavez Residence: I finally finished the rocking horse! (For those of you who have not seen me in my front yard slaving over this "project" for the last month and a half, let me fill you in: I bought an old hand-carved rocking horse at a yard sale and decided it would be a fun project.) Yeah, I learned that I'm not cut out for "projects" because this one took too long and I have no patience. Too bad I have already purchased a coffee table to re-finish for our living room in the new house. (Ha! I say that like we are going to be home-owners soon. Just a dream right now, Stac, just a dream.)

So, anyway... there will be pictures soon... I hope. Once the horse is reunited with his head, we'll have a "photo shoot". Aaaawwww!

First Come, First Serve

We've got 4 extra bus tickets to go to NYC tomorrow at noon from Philadelphia. The cost= $FREE.99. Who wants to come with us?

Siena's First Temper Tantrum

I don't know what tipped her off this morning, but it has been a hard day so far...



(This tantrum all sprouted from me taking an important piece of paper from her hands. Where did this attitude come from? She's not supposed to get it until she's TWO! The hardest part was trying not to pick her up to soothe her. So I distracted myself by filming it for posterity.)

Week In Review

Get Your Fill Now

This will be the last post I write in a long time, say, a week. (oh yeah, and it's gonna be short.)

We are moving. Not too far, thankfully; we found a place on the other side of the golf course. There are many good things about moving to this place. It is a full house (for the same price as our current rent,) it has a big kitchen, a garage, 3 bedrooms, 1 1/2 bath, a dishwasher, Central Air, and a washer/dryer. You can't beat it, so we made the decision to go for it.

The bad things: we have to leave the neighborhood (I will, however, make the effort to visit our friends here often,) and everything associated with the actual move (change utilities, possibility of higher car insurance bills because we will be in the actual city of Philadelphia, packing/unpacking and cleaning the house.) I think it is worth it, though.

We move out at the end of June. Wish us luck!

Peluca (translation: Wig)

(Siena just woke up from her nap)

Lentils & Other Success Stories

Siena can crawl now. And she eats lentils...



...and that's all she wrote.

Ear Infection Anyone?

Today was Siena's 9-month check-up. Yep, the title says it all... ear infection. Luckily, it is still acute and with the medicine they gave her, it should clear up soon. Siena has been a pretty good sport about the whole thing; she didn't cry when they pricked her finger for blood samples today and she only cried for about 20 seconds when they gave her the Polio/Hep B vaccine, and other than her tugging at her ears, the ear infection hasn't seemed to bother her.

...and it stayed on her head!!!

Movin' and Groovin'?

Siena can now crawl-- backwards. This is very ineffective for her because everything she wants is in front of her. She also does the army crawl-- backwards. Hmmm, I still have time to figure out how to baby-proof those stinkin' lamps....

The Story of the Mad Dentist

So, the other day I went to the dentist. My chipped-tooth filling came out a few weeks ago, so I needed to get that repaired. I was a little frustrated. First of all, the first time she repaired it was in November, so it wasn't that long ago; secondly, it was the first time I had seen that particular dentist and I wasn't too impressed by the overall experience (2 hour ordeal just for a 15 minute appointment, etc.)

Well, now I had to go in again to get the same thing repaired and it was dramatic. Besides the fact that they called me in an hour earlier just to see me at my original scheduled time in the end, the actually appointment was shady. All the dentist had to do was re-fill my filling. Period. She decided to do it with mechanical as well as chemical retention (which was fine), but she ended up pulling out a needle.

Shock!

This needle was the kind they give you when you go in for root canals. Not joking.

Now, those who know me know that I am a little weird because my favorite part about going to the dentist is getting dumbed. (Not the poke, but the numbness afterward. Seriously, Juan and his friend gave me topical Lidocaine samples from the Reps for my birthday.) But after I saw the needle, I was NOT looking forward to it. By the way, I should mention that for this particular mechanical retention, this needle was totally unnecessary.

She first sprayed a local anesthetic in my mouth, and then proceeded to insert the 50-foot long, aforementioned needle. With every inch of my mouth that it penetrated, I could hear her laugh with devilish delight, "Mwah, ha ha ha ha!" Okay, not really.

This next part is something that all future and present dentists should pay close attention to:

After my face started tingling (but while she was still jabbing around my mouth,) my lovely dentist starts asking me questions like, "Are you taking any medications", "Are you pregnant or breastfeeding", "Are you allergic to anything", and so forth. Flashing Red light! If I actually answered yes to any of those questions, she could get sued for malpractice, ESPECIALLY if something went wrong. She was supposed to ask them before anything went into my mouth.

In the end, it wasn't a big deal; however, I realized a few things about the medical profession. You cannot make a mistake. Oh yeah, and you shouldn't use big, horrible needles unless necessary.

Oh, and one more thing for the patients... EAT before going in to get numbed. It's a loooong wait afterwards.

Sanctuary

It's a beautiful day in my neighborhood today. When I woke up, my house smelled like rain and the temperature was wonderful. Yes, it is humid; but when it is coupled with 70* weather, there is no need to complain. My favorite part about this morning was hearing the birds in the trees outside. There must have been about 10 different species of birds in our front yard tree alone because all of them had different calls. It reminded me of the little bird sanctuary right off the Provo River Trail near our house. Considering the size of the nature reserve, birds there are plentiful and diverse. I wonder if there are any aviaries around here....

Different

(This blog looked a little too "Price-is-Right-y" so that's the reason for the sudden change.)

All This & More....

(Amber, I was inspired by your blog...)


This is something I will really miss when we move: Produce Junction. Now I know I have ranted and raved about this place, but once again, I have to brag about our experience there today. Here is the breakdown:

Item .........................(price at local supermarket)

• 3 lbs. of carrots ......................................$3.00
  
• 3 yellow squash -------------------------$1.50
  
• 10 limes ...................................................$6.90
  
• 1 crown broccoli-------------------------$2.00
  
• 6 Anjou pears..........................................$6.00
  
• 1 bag sugar snap peas-------------------$8.98
  
• 3 avocados ..............................................$3.00
  
• 1 lb. strawberries -----------------------$2.50
  
• 1 bunch Italian parsley..........................$1.00
  
• 1 bunch cilantro -------------------------$1.30
  
• 3 heads sweet corn ................................$1.20
  
• 2 crates cherry tomatoes --------------$6.00
  
• 1 bag baby spinach................................. $1.69
  
• 1 bag black seedless grapes ------------$4.50
  
• 1 box baby portobello mushrooms......$4.00

TOTAL: $53.57


Can you guess how much it cost me? (scroll down to be shocked.)









$23.50

Yep. We were pretty proud, especially considering that all of the produce we bought was fresh and beautiful (but not in a waxy kind-of-way.) I'm hooked.

Rittenhouse Row Spring Festival 2008

(We pulled out the camera in the less-populated area, so the pictures do not give you an accurate estimate on the amount of people here.)

Over 50,000 people attend this festival every year and it literally covered half a mile of Walnut Street. Because I do not feel like typing anymore today, I'll just send you to the website if you're curious as to what it is....

I Love Don Knotts

When I was sick in bed a few weeks ago, I watched a couple Don Knotts movies and remembered how much I like his movies. So, here are a few of his movies (and show) that I really enjoyed and if you haven't seen them, I highly suggest watching them if you need a good laugh. (Oh, and for all the Temple Dental students, wives, etc. I suggest watching "The Shakiest Gun in the West" because it starts out at the Philadelphia School of Dentistry (which is now The Kornberg School of Dentistry at Temple. Hilarious!)

The Ghost of Mr. Chicken
The Apple Dumpling Gang
The Shakiest Gun in the West
How to Frame a Fig
The Reluctant Astronaut
...and of course, The Andy Griffith Show

Siena Milestone

Siena is starting to wave "hello" to people. It looks like she's trying to "raise the roof" with one hand, but whatever... IT'S STILL SO CUTE! I'll try to capture it on video so you all can see.