Educational moment brought to you by MTV

Last night I was flipping through the hundreds of channels on the in-laws direct TV dish cable feed. (Incidentally if I can't flip through the whole cycle of channels in under 10 minutes, I just get plain overwhelmed.) But I came to rest on MTV. Clearly, I have aged out of the intended demographic but they had a show on called "16 and Pregnant." Ken & I were a little dubious because we have also seen "My Super Sweet 16" which glorifies incredibly spoiled teenagers and their over the top birthday celebration. We wondered then if this show would "glorify" teen pregnancy.

No even close.

We watched for almost the full hour and I have to give some credit to MTV for shining a no-nonsense light on a serious topic for once. I have mentioned my utter disdain for reality television because it's not about reality. But this show might be an exception. It was very clear about illustrating in the couples' own words their growing fears, disillusionment, understanding of sacrifice and changes that were affecting them. I kept thinking the mom-to-be in the show was going through many of the same things physically that I am now, but she is almost 20 years younger then me. Twenty years less experience, twenty years less time to grow as a person, twenty years less to establish a career, find a fulfilling relationship and realize her dreams. And any of the minor fears/uncertainties that Ken & I have about lack of sleep, impact on our relationship or changes to our spending & priorities, simply pale in comparison to the challenges facing the couple on the show. The dad just barely graduated from high school and is bound for the military. The mom wanted to graduate and go into the Air Force as well but she couldn't finish her classes with the arrival of the baby and the military won't allow two parents to enlist like that due to hardship on the family. So the gal had to give up everything she was dreaming about for her life for this child.

Another great point this show made was how this couple wasn't using any form of birth control--despite the fact they knew about it and had parents who would assist them with getting it. For some reason, that seems like a growing problem these days. I don't know enough to say definitively, but are people just more cavalier about their actions and don't care about the consequences these days?

Hopefully this show will crystalize to teens & young adults that sex is serious business and should not be taken lightly.

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But for those of you who have been through a pregnancy, I dare you to go to TLC where they have a show called "I Didn't Know I Was Pregnant." It's pretty self-explanatory but you have to see this show to believe it. I cannot even wrap my head around the concept.

The Wetus goes to Washington (DC)

Yesterday we had a lovely visit to Downtown Washington DC. We had lunch with Aunt Mary and then decided to go down by the White House to see if we could spot an Obama. Instead we came up against some awful traffic where we literally moved 4 blocks in 45 minutes. But right when we were going to give up, we found a parking spot within a block and a half of the White House. Very picturesque.




As an added bonus we found out what was stopping traffic: a protest against human rights violations aimed at the visiting Columbian President. We had seen some limos & blacked out SUVs go by us when we were trying to get around and then lo & behold just a block away from the White House there was this rally...




It was very exciting. And then as we went back toward the White House, I noticed men in black watching from the roof. It must be the snipers! It doesn't get much better than that. After we got our fill of presidential grandeur, we went on a quest for ice cream and found some frozen custard.




As always, it was a fabulous visit with Aunt Mary who has lived in DC for over 50 years. She and her family have worked in various parts of the government in DC and she narated which building was what as we drove through town. You can tell the city is getting ready for the 4th of July festivities. Though we will be down in Virginia by then, it looks to be one major party.

East Coast Bound and Thoughts about Michael Jackson

Clearly the Wetus is getting ready for our trip to the East Coast today and self-adjusting to the time difference because it woke up at 5 am with hiccups and has been active ever since. That's fine I guess because it's so bright outside anyway, so I may as well get up. We are off to the DC, Maryland, Virginia area to do, as I have been calling it, "The Farewell Tour." Farewell, to our transcontinental traveling twosome days. There is a lot of visiting packed in including a stay with the Vaslows who moved from Kirkland to Maryland last year, seeing many of Ken's childhood & school friends and a mini-reunion with Ken's family on the 4th of July.

I am looking forward to getting away and seeing all these fine people. I hope my energy level sustains so that it can be a truly enjoyable time. The weather is forecasted in the 80's with 40-50% humidity. We shall see how I do with that. I'm a little nervous about how many ticks they have over there. An alarming number of Ken's family have Lyme Disease from those little pests so I am coming prepared with some pretreated insect repelling clothing and DEET spray in a concentration safe for pregnancy. But being more of an indoor person myself, it might not be too hard to stay out of the ticks' way. At 27 weeks pregnant and still showing placenta previa, I have also been advised to travel with a copy of my medical records (check), know where all the Level III NICU Hospitals are (check) and not lift, strain or engage in any form of exercise (...) Poor Ken, he's going to be schlepping bags this whole vacation.

One very cool thing about this trip is that Ken, his brothers and cousin are going to rent Harleys and take a multi-day motorcycle road trip to revisit some of the significant places in their childhood. They have been talking about doing this for a few years and the timing is pretty good considering what's coming up. Ken has been helping plan the route and make accommodations.

As for this past week, we celebrated our 4th Anniversary which culminated with a lovely dinner at Waterfront Restaurant. Our booth table had a view of Elliott Bay where there were sailboat races going on. It was spectacular. Ken and I both agreed while we like the look of sailboats and they are a fun challenge, we are so glad we don't have to maintain one.

Ken also gave me a cute card in which he made a list which I will share...

Top 10 Reasons I Love my Prius-- I mean, Wife

1. Still Shiny
2. Environmentally Friendly
3. Unlocks as I Approach
4. Low Emissions
5. Sleek Lines/Aerodynamic
6. Roomy (good for carrying kids)
7. Great Safety Rating
8. Saves Me Money Everyday
9. Quiet "Ninja Mode" Feature
10. Makes Me Smug

Also on the day of our anniversary, Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson died so that kicked off a little introspection. Particularly in Michael Jackson's situation as more information comes out that he had been allegedly addicted to pain killers and surrounded by people who enabled access to substances furthering his destructive spiraling. It reminded me of the Anna Nicole Smith train wreck and the nearly identical Britney Spears situation. Britney at least had her family to save her from that fate but it strikes me that these quite famous and seemingly rich & powerful people attract to them the most sinister associates and "yes-people" who separate them from reality and reason. When you add drugs into the mix, the celebrity at the center of it is no longer in control and their miserable lives become a spectacle that the masses consume as entertainment.

Along the same lines, I guess I don't understand the appeal of reality television. It seems worse in a way because it's more an "I want to be famous" motivation and less an "I want to be a professional entertainer". Because once famous, a reality star has to deal with the pitfalls of keeping fame, continual pressure to be outrageous and a misplaced narcissism that comes without ever having to be talented. I don't watch reality TV but just the amount of news coverage that Jon & Kate plus 8 show got--I worry about our culture and what message is conveyed about "what reality is."

So regarding Michael who was so impactful to my 80's childhood, my love of dance and music--I salute you. He became weirder and weirder as time went on so I chose to remember him as he was in the 80's and marvel at that era which seemed so magical. But like many geniuses and mega-celebrities, his early success was at the expense of a normal life & childhood which could have manifested some of the reprehensible behavior he was later accused of. I don't know, but as my dad says, "you can do anything you want if you're willing to pay the price." It seems that Michael paid that price many times over but can now leave it all behind.

Happy Anniversary!

To my husband who always keeps me laughing...

Photo by Brett Jungbluth

Dad, the do-gooder

Here's dad in a PSA about the SW Washington Free Clinic. With the issue of more and more folks not having health care because they can't afford it or don't have jobs that provide it, clinics like these are getting slammed. I am so grateful that there are places like these to help bridge the gap while our government is finally taking this issue head on. Dad volunteers here and this PSA was made as a recruitment tool to attract other healthcare providers. (Dad comes in at 3:25)



I think Shannon told me that 60% of bankruptcies are due to health care costs. It makes no sense to me to be the country with the best health care available that only a fraction of the citizens can access. I think health care needs to be looked at more in terms of a service and less as a business. I'm beginning to think that capitalism isn't all that sustainable especially when it comes to basics like this. The other thing I don't understand is why "socialized medicine" is such a scary prospect. I lived over in England for a year and have English friends. They like their health care system very much thank you. Why are our politicians so afraid of it?

25 Weeks

Me...




The Nursery sans Theremin & crib...




Crib construction...




The Nursery / temporary Theremin practice room...




The Fighting Wetus...


(Boxing gloves compliments of Daddy who likes to take liberties in Photoshop.)

Wenatchee

Ken and I took a fantastical journey to the center of our fine state. It was a welcome car trip, especially as we passed the top of Snoqualmie Pass and the area en route to Wenatchee called Hidden Valley. So picturesque and wide open. I do miss that--how the land opens up before you with no obstacles and the sky & clouds seem bigger than normal. In the hustle bustle of the big city, views like that can seem so foreign.

Our weekend getaway was spent with my elementary school chum Heather, her musical husband Daric and their 2-year-old, Ethan. I visited them down in Phoenix last Mother's Day and they have since relocated to Wenatchee, WA. We are so excited to have them so near. The temps were in the upper 80's/low 90's so this delicate, pregnant flower was wilting a little. But it's almost prime time cherry season and I was hoping to snag some of my favorite fruit from the source. I did come back with some Bings but will have to wait a few more weeks for the Rainiers.



Ken had only met Heather & Daric at our wedding (4 years ago) and of course it was a whirlwind so not much quality time. But on this visit, Daric and Ken got to jam on their guitars, Ken gave a Theremin demonstration, we played and read to their son Ethan who danced, sang & says the most earnest "no" I've ever seen and we got to see Daric play songs from his new CD at a local eatery. Heather & Daric also told us stories about parenthood which we intently absorbed.

Ken and I stayed at a very cute B&B called Huckleberry Haven. It is the most darling place and the hosts provide excellent hospitality and meals. True to it's name, huckleberries are featured in many of the breakfast dishes and beverages served. The huckleberry bread was our favorite and she gave me the recipe. Of course, I have a thing about 99.99999999999999999999% of the beds in this world: they are not mine and therefore I cannot have very restful sleep because I am so spoiled and unadaptable in my old age. But the private 2-person jacuzzi tub, sitting room and beautifully decorated suite were fabulous and the second night was an improvement.

We look forward to seeing them in Wenatchee again--probably post-wetus delivery.

Media NOT Recommended for Pregnancy

Then there's the stuff one should stay away from during pregnancy--and I'm not talking sushi, coffee, lunch meat or blue cheese.

Here are some major offenders:

Book

Girlfriend's Guide to Pregnancy

Probably the worst book I've encountered regarding pregnancy. Tone is snarky and shallow. I guess the woman who wrote this is a former Playboy Playmate--which may explain the unshakable fixation on appearance and how pregnancy/childbirth affects a swinging gal's mojo. There are a lot of humor books on the topic of pregnancy and a few are listed in my former post. This is in no way "humorous"; it vacillates simultaneously between annoying and sad.

TV/Movies

The Fly 2 (first 10 minutes especially)

One of our friends said not just pregnant women but everyone should be warned against this movie. I thought this was a descent movie but the first scene is very horrific if you are pregnant or ever thinking about becoming so.

Battlestar Galactica Episode "The Farm"

From my favorite TV show comes a disturbing episode that showcases the cylons desire to cross-breed with humans and their mechanisms to accomplish that. Makes you think twice about what we do to animals/livestock in the name of science.

Any of the "Alien" movies

One of the best sci-fi story lines ever but does not mix well with pregnancy. Technically this doesn't have anything to do with pregnancy, but NOW the idea of a creature bursting out of your chest/abdomen area--yeah not so cool.

Star Trek 2009 (just the first 10 minutes)

I'm a big ole nerd & I love me some Trek. Wasn't totally on board with Sylar, I mean New Spock but grew to accept it. However, the very first scene involving Kirk's parents and the evacuation of his mom whilst in-labor to an escape pod while his dad stayed on the bridge to detonate the ship manually--I was inconsolably bawling. Surprised the hell out of me too. Hello hormones.

Supernatural, pilot episode

This is probably one of the most frightening TV episodes I've ever seen, ranking right up there with "Home" from the X-files (back when it was good). The flashback scene in the first 15 minutes is so surprising and bloody, describing it doesn't do it justice. There are summaries of the episode online and I was going to link to one but when you see it written out, it doesn't seem that bad. But trust me, don't watch this if you're pregnant or just had a baby.

Overall, I find myself becoming really sensitive to violence in movies and TV now. I don't have the immunity to it that I once did. Also I find myself sort of weepy at the oddest things: pictures of puppies, sentimental music and don't even get me started on the movie UP. Be warned.