Didn't sleep well last night - had trouble falling asleep, and as soon as I did, the boy woke up with a bad dream. He went right back to sleep, I didn't. Then the baby woke up. Daddy fed her so I could go back to sleep, but the damage was done. I've been tired all day, with no opportunity to nap. So instead of my planned post, I'm going to take a hot shower, read a chapter of "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter" then go to bed early.
'Night.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Monday, October 10, 2011
Peter Kiewit Construction Totally Rocks!
Kiewit Construction is building a large office tower for TD Ameritrade a few miles from our house. They're using two giant tower cranes, which are visible from quite a ways away. I know this because everywhere we go, the boy points them out. He really, REALLY, likes construction equipment.
Daddy has been taking him to the construction site on the weekends every month or so, so he can watch the progress. One Saturday morning, a supervisor spotted them watching, (the boy in his toy construction helmet) and came over to talk. He gave the boy a real, official Kiewit hard hat, sized down to fit, and offered to set up a tour some Saturday. A few weeks later, Daddy called to set up the tour, and John from Kiewit took them all around the site. They got to go up in the office building (still mostly just framework), and the boy got to touch, and sit in, actual construction equipment.
It's amazing to me how far out of their way the Kiewit staff went to make one construction-crazy boy's day. Every time Daddy and the boy go back, if the workers are there, they smile and wave, sometimes give him official stickers for his hard hat - last time, they even made him a name label for the helmet. They didn't have to do any of this - the boy was happy just to watch them work. But Kiewit really gets public relations.
View of the tower crane from inside the TD Ameritrade building, under construction.
The boy inside a construction vehicle, complete with safety vest and hard hat.
If the boy ends up a construction worker, or a structural engineer, or an architect, I think we'll know just where and when the seed was planted. Thanks Kiewit!
Daddy has been taking him to the construction site on the weekends every month or so, so he can watch the progress. One Saturday morning, a supervisor spotted them watching, (the boy in his toy construction helmet) and came over to talk. He gave the boy a real, official Kiewit hard hat, sized down to fit, and offered to set up a tour some Saturday. A few weeks later, Daddy called to set up the tour, and John from Kiewit took them all around the site. They got to go up in the office building (still mostly just framework), and the boy got to touch, and sit in, actual construction equipment.
It's amazing to me how far out of their way the Kiewit staff went to make one construction-crazy boy's day. Every time Daddy and the boy go back, if the workers are there, they smile and wave, sometimes give him official stickers for his hard hat - last time, they even made him a name label for the helmet. They didn't have to do any of this - the boy was happy just to watch them work. But Kiewit really gets public relations.
If the boy ends up a construction worker, or a structural engineer, or an architect, I think we'll know just where and when the seed was planted. Thanks Kiewit!
Sunday, October 9, 2011
How Long Should It Take To Lose the Baby Weight?
I spent some time today trying on pre-pregnancy jeans. I ended up with three pairs that fit pretty well, two pairs that almost fit and were worth keeping around, and three pairs of "no way in hell am I ever getting into these again." (At least one pair of that last group were pre-first pregnancy.)
Those results were a lot better than I expected, though I still have some weight left to lose, and not a lot of time to do it. Statistics show if a woman doesn't lose her baby weight within the first year, she has a 78% chance of never losing it. (No, not really, I just made that up. Sounds pretty plausible, doesn't it? That's why you shouldn't believe everything you read on the internet. But I digress.)
So let's see: I have nine pounds left to lose and my baby turns one on October 17...nope, not going to make it. But I am starting a new exercise program this week. Of course, this is about the third new exercise program I've started in the last year, none of which lasted more than a week. But this time I have a more realistic workout schedule, and with a single digit goal and the incentive of pants that fit, I think this time I'll stick to it.
Now, if I can just face the Wii Fit after my long absence...
Those results were a lot better than I expected, though I still have some weight left to lose, and not a lot of time to do it. Statistics show if a woman doesn't lose her baby weight within the first year, she has a 78% chance of never losing it. (No, not really, I just made that up. Sounds pretty plausible, doesn't it? That's why you shouldn't believe everything you read on the internet. But I digress.)
So let's see: I have nine pounds left to lose and my baby turns one on October 17...nope, not going to make it. But I am starting a new exercise program this week. Of course, this is about the third new exercise program I've started in the last year, none of which lasted more than a week. But this time I have a more realistic workout schedule, and with a single digit goal and the incentive of pants that fit, I think this time I'll stick to it.
Now, if I can just face the Wii Fit after my long absence...
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Football Saturday, Take 2
Just a short post today, getting ready to go to the Nebraska-Ohio State game. The first home Big 10 Conference game - hope it goes better than last week's farce at Wisconsin.
We only go to one game a year, and last year I didn't go to any, since I was nine months pregnant at this time last year. So I'm hoping for good weather (no rain, please) and a good win for Nebraska. Just wish it wasn't a night game - it's going to be a late drive home from Lincoln.
Next day edit: Well, it rained off and on the whole game, but I got my good win! THAT was THE game to go to this year! Down 27-6 in the third quarter, and Nebraska pulls out a comeback victory, 34-27. Biggest comeback in school history! Hello, Big Ten Conference, welcome to Lincoln! Didn't get back to Omaha until 12:30 a.m., and I feel hungover this morning without having had a drink, but it was totally worth it!
(Aside to my Hawkeye fan friends and relatives: Sorry about your trip to Penn State. I watched some of that game before we left, and I was rooting for Iowa - that was a tough loss. Even though NU is in the Big Ten now, I still plan to root for Iowa - right up until they play Nebraska!)
We only go to one game a year, and last year I didn't go to any, since I was nine months pregnant at this time last year. So I'm hoping for good weather (no rain, please) and a good win for Nebraska. Just wish it wasn't a night game - it's going to be a late drive home from Lincoln.
Next day edit: Well, it rained off and on the whole game, but I got my good win! THAT was THE game to go to this year! Down 27-6 in the third quarter, and Nebraska pulls out a comeback victory, 34-27. Biggest comeback in school history! Hello, Big Ten Conference, welcome to Lincoln! Didn't get back to Omaha until 12:30 a.m., and I feel hungover this morning without having had a drink, but it was totally worth it!
(Aside to my Hawkeye fan friends and relatives: Sorry about your trip to Penn State. I watched some of that game before we left, and I was rooting for Iowa - that was a tough loss. Even though NU is in the Big Ten now, I still plan to root for Iowa - right up until they play Nebraska!)
Friday, October 7, 2011
Is My Baby a Cat Reincarnated?
I'm not sure I believe in reincarnation, but I kind of want to. It just seems plausible - cosmic recycling.
Now, when I was about four months pregnant, our cat died. And since the baby was born, there have been some interesting similarities:
- She dislikes the sound of rattling plastic bags - the cat hated plastic bags.
- She sometimes puts her hand in her mouth, then wipes it along her face, just like a cat cleaning itself.
- She chases cereal puffs around her highchair tray, capturing and releasing them a few times before eating, just like a cat with a bug.
It would make karmic sense for Buster to come back as the baby - he spent the last years of his life tolerating the boy from baby to age four. Now it's payback time as the baby does to big brother what he did to the cat. ;)
Something to think about, anyway...
Now, when I was about four months pregnant, our cat died. And since the baby was born, there have been some interesting similarities:
- She dislikes the sound of rattling plastic bags - the cat hated plastic bags.
- She sometimes puts her hand in her mouth, then wipes it along her face, just like a cat cleaning itself.
- She chases cereal puffs around her highchair tray, capturing and releasing them a few times before eating, just like a cat with a bug.
It would make karmic sense for Buster to come back as the baby - he spent the last years of his life tolerating the boy from baby to age four. Now it's payback time as the baby does to big brother what he did to the cat. ;)
Something to think about, anyway...
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Recipe Wednesday: Meatloaf That Doesn't Suck
I've always hated meatloaf. Dry, greasy, full of soggy breadcrumb chunks...hated it growing up, planned never to eat it again. But other people in this family like meatloaf, and since I'm the family chef, I decided to try to create a meatloaf I liked. After much experimentation, this is it. The secret is the panko - superfine, crispy, Japanese breadcrumbs. It's so flavorful, you won't need ketchup, gravy, or any other condiment.
Meatloaf That Doesn't Suck
About 1 lb. ground beef
2 eggs (beaten)
1 cup panko (Japanese breadcrumbs)
1 T. seasoning salt
1 T. Worcestershire Sauce
1 small jar roasted red peppers, diced fine
About 1/3 cup Kalamata olives, diced fine
1 small container crumbled Feta cheese
salt and pepper to taste
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a loaf pan or small baking dish with aluminum foil (makes cleanup easier). Mix everything together in a large mixing bowl - really goosh it around with your hands to make sure it's evenly mixed. Shape it into a loaf and bake for 1 hour. Let it set up for about 5 minutes, then remove from pan to a serving platter - most of the grease should stay on the foil.
Meatloaf That Doesn't Suck
About 1 lb. ground beef
2 eggs (beaten)
1 cup panko (Japanese breadcrumbs)
1 T. seasoning salt
1 T. Worcestershire Sauce
1 small jar roasted red peppers, diced fine
About 1/3 cup Kalamata olives, diced fine
1 small container crumbled Feta cheese
salt and pepper to taste
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a loaf pan or small baking dish with aluminum foil (makes cleanup easier). Mix everything together in a large mixing bowl - really goosh it around with your hands to make sure it's evenly mixed. Shape it into a loaf and bake for 1 hour. Let it set up for about 5 minutes, then remove from pan to a serving platter - most of the grease should stay on the foil.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
NaBloWriMo prompt - What hero from a favorite book would I want to be?
So, this was actually the prompt from Oct. 1, but I wasn't ready for it then. Now I am.
I thought about this a lot. It was harder than I expected. See, my favorite heroes/heroines, the ones from those books that are so well written you can feel yourself there, living everything with them? They go through a lot of pain, stress and hardship. And yeah, they end up wiser, more mature, there's a lot of personal growth...but really, some of these people go through hell first. I don't want to live their lives, I just want to read about them. I prefer to experience their pain vicariously, and I can still benefit from their life lessons.
That said, I'd want to be Hermione Granger. I was the brain in school, picked last for softball, first for spelling bee teams. How cool would it have been to be the brain who could also do magic? If these books had come out when I was a child, I would have been waiting for my letter from Hogwarts when I turned 11.
I thought about this a lot. It was harder than I expected. See, my favorite heroes/heroines, the ones from those books that are so well written you can feel yourself there, living everything with them? They go through a lot of pain, stress and hardship. And yeah, they end up wiser, more mature, there's a lot of personal growth...but really, some of these people go through hell first. I don't want to live their lives, I just want to read about them. I prefer to experience their pain vicariously, and I can still benefit from their life lessons.
That said, I'd want to be Hermione Granger. I was the brain in school, picked last for softball, first for spelling bee teams. How cool would it have been to be the brain who could also do magic? If these books had come out when I was a child, I would have been waiting for my letter from Hogwarts when I turned 11.
Monday, October 3, 2011
An Explanation of "Passing For Normal"
I'm a sci-fi nerd/geek. I like sci-fi in all its forms: books, movies, TV, art, comics...well, everything but Anime. (Sorry, I just don't get it.) I've been to Star Trek conventions, Star Wars conventions, I'm a volunteer staff member for OSFest, our local sci-fi convention...I'm pretty geeky.
Now, there's a common stereotype for the sci-fi geek: think Comic Book Guy from the Simpsons, or William Shatner hosting Saturday Night Live - you know, the skit where he laid into the fans at a Star Trek convention? "Have any of you ever kissed a girl? Move out of your parents' basements!" When most people think sci-fi, this is the image they get in their heads.
Well, I don't look like that. When I worked outside the home, my job did not involve technology or computers. I tried to dress as stylishly as possible, and I can converse on a variety of topics that are not sci-fi related. And so when someone outside my circle of geek friends would notice the Jabba the Hutt figure in my cubicle, or hear I took vacation days to wait in line for the midnight opening of "Revenge of the Sith," I'd get that LOOK, followed by a comment like, "I didn't know you were into that stuff - you seem so...normal." Usually followed by a conversation where the person tells me how they never liked that sci-fi stuff. The irritating thing is, some of these are the same people who would regularly discuss their favorite shows - like "Fringe," "Lost," and "Heroes." I wanted to shake them and say "But those are all SCIENCE FICTION!!" (In fact, sometimes I did do this.)
Now that I'm a stay at home mom, my wardrobe has gotten a lot more casual, and the geek T-shirts are creeping over into everyday wear. (My current favorite says "I had friends on Alderaan!") But most of the time I still look just like everyone else, so watch out - there could be a lot more of us undercover sci-fi geeks out there "Passing For Normal."
Now, there's a common stereotype for the sci-fi geek: think Comic Book Guy from the Simpsons, or William Shatner hosting Saturday Night Live - you know, the skit where he laid into the fans at a Star Trek convention? "Have any of you ever kissed a girl? Move out of your parents' basements!" When most people think sci-fi, this is the image they get in their heads.
Well, I don't look like that. When I worked outside the home, my job did not involve technology or computers. I tried to dress as stylishly as possible, and I can converse on a variety of topics that are not sci-fi related. And so when someone outside my circle of geek friends would notice the Jabba the Hutt figure in my cubicle, or hear I took vacation days to wait in line for the midnight opening of "Revenge of the Sith," I'd get that LOOK, followed by a comment like, "I didn't know you were into that stuff - you seem so...normal." Usually followed by a conversation where the person tells me how they never liked that sci-fi stuff. The irritating thing is, some of these are the same people who would regularly discuss their favorite shows - like "Fringe," "Lost," and "Heroes." I wanted to shake them and say "But those are all SCIENCE FICTION!!" (In fact, sometimes I did do this.)
Now that I'm a stay at home mom, my wardrobe has gotten a lot more casual, and the geek T-shirts are creeping over into everyday wear. (My current favorite says "I had friends on Alderaan!") But most of the time I still look just like everyone else, so watch out - there could be a lot more of us undercover sci-fi geeks out there "Passing For Normal."
Sunday, October 2, 2011
A Restaurant Review - Mmmmmm, Sushi!
So, we went to Wasabi Sushi for dinner Friday night. This is an all-you-can-eat, made-to-order sushi restaurant in northwest Omaha. When this place opened July 2010, my first thought was, "All-you-can eat sushi in my neighborhood? Awesome!" My second thought was, "Dang! I'm six months pregnant - I hope they're still around by the time I can eat sushi again." See, Omaha is a big restaurant town, and with so many, it's hard for a new place to establish a toehold in the market. Plus, there are two really good sushi places in this part of town already, and how many can a steak town like Omaha support?
Luckily, this place is good enough, and different enough, to hold its own in the market. Yeah, it's pretty expensive at night, but hey, all-you-can-eat sashimi! The kid price is quite a bit higher than your average kids menu hamburger/chicken fingers place, but worth it if your kid is an open-minded eater. Of course, I may have the only non-Japanese five-year-old in the city who can eat his body weight in salmon sashimi, miso soup and edamame.
Besides the nummy sashimi, Wasabi offers a wide selection of rolls and sushi on rice, plus a wide selection of appetizers, many of them cooked, to appeal to the non-raw-fish crowd. The gyoza (fried dumplings) and tempura mushrooms are especially good - well seasoned with a light, crispy tempura coating.
The real stand-out at this place is the sushi pizza. My favorite is the spicy salmon variety. This is a round of sticky rice for the crust, coated in tempura and fried all hot and crunchy, then topped with a cool spicy salmon mixture and a drizzle of spicy-sweet sauce. The juxtaposition of hot and crunchy crust with cool spicy topping has won fans among sushi and non-sushi eaters alike.
If you want a cheaper way to try the place out, go for lunch - it's about half-price, but with a more limited menu than evenings. (No sashimi.) Though drinks aren't included in the all-you-can eat price at lunch or dinner, dessert is included - several varieties of homemade ice cream. My favorite is the green tea - sweet and creamy, and you can really taste the tea. The red bean is also good, reminds me of strawberry a bit.
One caveat to the all-you-can-eat, you are expected to eat all you order. To discourage waste, Wasabi charges by the piece for extras left on the plate. They're flexible, though, so don't worry if you just can't finish that last bite of a roll - they only charge if you've over-ordered to where there's a lot left over. So start slow, if you find something you like, there's always more where that came from!
Wasabi Sushi
14513 West Maple Rd.
402-991-6878
www.thewasabisushi.com
Dinner: $22.99; kids 5-12: $11.99
Lunch: $12.99; kids 5-12: $7.99
Hours: Mon.-Sat. lunch 11am - 3:30 p.m.; dinner 3:30-11 p.m.
Sun. all day: Adult $20.99; kids $11.99
Luckily, this place is good enough, and different enough, to hold its own in the market. Yeah, it's pretty expensive at night, but hey, all-you-can-eat sashimi! The kid price is quite a bit higher than your average kids menu hamburger/chicken fingers place, but worth it if your kid is an open-minded eater. Of course, I may have the only non-Japanese five-year-old in the city who can eat his body weight in salmon sashimi, miso soup and edamame.
Besides the nummy sashimi, Wasabi offers a wide selection of rolls and sushi on rice, plus a wide selection of appetizers, many of them cooked, to appeal to the non-raw-fish crowd. The gyoza (fried dumplings) and tempura mushrooms are especially good - well seasoned with a light, crispy tempura coating.
The real stand-out at this place is the sushi pizza. My favorite is the spicy salmon variety. This is a round of sticky rice for the crust, coated in tempura and fried all hot and crunchy, then topped with a cool spicy salmon mixture and a drizzle of spicy-sweet sauce. The juxtaposition of hot and crunchy crust with cool spicy topping has won fans among sushi and non-sushi eaters alike.
If you want a cheaper way to try the place out, go for lunch - it's about half-price, but with a more limited menu than evenings. (No sashimi.) Though drinks aren't included in the all-you-can eat price at lunch or dinner, dessert is included - several varieties of homemade ice cream. My favorite is the green tea - sweet and creamy, and you can really taste the tea. The red bean is also good, reminds me of strawberry a bit.
One caveat to the all-you-can-eat, you are expected to eat all you order. To discourage waste, Wasabi charges by the piece for extras left on the plate. They're flexible, though, so don't worry if you just can't finish that last bite of a roll - they only charge if you've over-ordered to where there's a lot left over. So start slow, if you find something you like, there's always more where that came from!
Wasabi Sushi
14513 West Maple Rd.
402-991-6878
www.thewasabisushi.com
Dinner: $22.99; kids 5-12: $11.99
Lunch: $12.99; kids 5-12: $7.99
Hours: Mon.-Sat. lunch 11am - 3:30 p.m.; dinner 3:30-11 p.m.
Sun. all day: Adult $20.99; kids $11.99
Saturday, October 1, 2011
NaBloWriMo and Football Saturday
Today is October 1st, and I have accepted the NaBloWriMo challenge of a blog post a day every day in October, so, here goes.
I thought I'd write about the most important thing happening in this country today: The Nebraska-Wisconsin college football game. OK, maybe it's only the most important thing going on if you live in Nebraska or Madison, Wisconsin. Anyway, local media has been telling us how important this game is over and over for the last few weeks because:
1. It's the first conference game for Nebraska since they joined the Big Ten this year.
2. Both teams wear red and white and chant "Go Big Red"
3. Former Wisconsin coach, now A.D. Barry Alvarez has Nebraska ties (he played football at Nebraska in the '60s).
4. Both teams are ranked in the Top 10.
This is all very interesting, so why am I not excited? Or, rather, why am I not as excited as I feel I should be?
When the old Big Eight conference became the Big 12 by adding four Texas schools, it was huge. I knew everything about it, couldn't wait for the first game against one of the new schools. Of course, I was working for the newspaper at the time - since I had to read the sports section in detail every day, it all just sort of soaked in.
I think because this is a move, not an expansion, it all just seems overwhelming. I spent 40 years absorbing the football lore and history of the Big Eight/Big 12, and now I have to start from scratch with 11 new schools to learn about? Sorry Big Ten, I just can't switch gears that easily. (As a side note, the Big 12 lost two schools, and the Big Ten gained two - shouldn't they switch names?)
Well, the game starts in an hour and I'll be watching and rooting for a win for the Huskers (the pundits seem to consider them serious underdogs - I guess we'll see if they're overrated tonight), and I promise to try to gather some excitement for the Big Ten in general. (We've got a new rivalry with Iowa - that's going to be pretty cool). And a win tonight would go a long way toward building my enthusiasm. So Go Big Red! (Both of them. But mostly Nebraska.)
I thought I'd write about the most important thing happening in this country today: The Nebraska-Wisconsin college football game. OK, maybe it's only the most important thing going on if you live in Nebraska or Madison, Wisconsin. Anyway, local media has been telling us how important this game is over and over for the last few weeks because:
1. It's the first conference game for Nebraska since they joined the Big Ten this year.
2. Both teams wear red and white and chant "Go Big Red"
3. Former Wisconsin coach, now A.D. Barry Alvarez has Nebraska ties (he played football at Nebraska in the '60s).
4. Both teams are ranked in the Top 10.
This is all very interesting, so why am I not excited? Or, rather, why am I not as excited as I feel I should be?
When the old Big Eight conference became the Big 12 by adding four Texas schools, it was huge. I knew everything about it, couldn't wait for the first game against one of the new schools. Of course, I was working for the newspaper at the time - since I had to read the sports section in detail every day, it all just sort of soaked in.
I think because this is a move, not an expansion, it all just seems overwhelming. I spent 40 years absorbing the football lore and history of the Big Eight/Big 12, and now I have to start from scratch with 11 new schools to learn about? Sorry Big Ten, I just can't switch gears that easily. (As a side note, the Big 12 lost two schools, and the Big Ten gained two - shouldn't they switch names?)
Well, the game starts in an hour and I'll be watching and rooting for a win for the Huskers (the pundits seem to consider them serious underdogs - I guess we'll see if they're overrated tonight), and I promise to try to gather some excitement for the Big Ten in general. (We've got a new rivalry with Iowa - that's going to be pretty cool). And a win tonight would go a long way toward building my enthusiasm. So Go Big Red! (Both of them. But mostly Nebraska.)
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