What have I been doing?

I keep wondering what I could have possibly been doing lately that has prevented me for writing a blog entry. The simplest answer is that I have been doing nothing of note which warranted a post. Or that it had to do with work, which I can't blog about unless I want to get dooced. Or that it had to do with the in-laws, which I can't do because, well, I think that's pretty obvious. But in truth, I have spent all my Sesame Street time lately trying to catch up on my Atlantic Monthly magazines. I started about a month ago with January 2006 and just last night I finished May's issue. I've started on June and July/August is a double issue, so here's hoping I can finish before the next one comes. Of course meanwhile my New Yorkers are piling up...A losing battle. Unlike the Atlantic, I have no problem tossing a pile of New Yorkers though. Of course devoting yourself to six months of back issues of a long magazine means no reading gossip magazines or books, which is unfortunate. But SIX months! Desperate measures were in order.

Other projects that have kept me busy this Summer:

We finally got our wedding pictures developed! That required purchase of an album and putting it all together. Once I did that I realized that I needed to organize all my photos, so I have been sorting them and putting them into albums as well. As a strict Virgo, I had to really think about the absolute best way to organize them, strictly chronologically? by category? And what about my unfinished album of my childhood pictures? And the not-even-started-yet album of Nora's first (two) years? Yeah, that will keep me busy into the fall.

I have undertaken the viewing of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, all seven seasons and 144 episodes. I had seen the odd episode here and there but knew I needed to watch it all beginning to end. Luckily my babysitter has the super deluxe collection and was willing to loan it to me. I am through to the end of season six. I like it. But, I'm not in love with it. I'm in love with Six Feet Under. Still, this takes up chunks and chunks of time.

Growing a baby. This requires more sleep, more peeing, and more eating. As well as appointments and rereading about the whole birth process. We are already halfway through the pregnancy. Unbelievable! We had an ultrasound last week, nothing too exciting since we didn't find out the sex. They didn't take any very flattering pictures either. But if anyone wants to see a leg bone or the bottom of a foot, that we have. The doctor tried to do a 3D of the face, but the baby wouldn't look up. Which is really fine with me because that is just too much information.

Planning the future. Looking at real estate on line and jobs, and schools, and everything else takes a lot of time. We are leaving for Portland on the 24th, we don't have tickets yet, but I'm hoping for one of those phenomenal Last Minute Deals. We are going sans Nora! I think both Alec and I have been holding out for this weekend for about two months. Four days away from the two-year old? Sign me up! Grandma Faye is going to be looking after her along with a cameo appearance by Jessica who has agreed to relieve Grandma for a 24 hour period. I'm afraid that 24 hours with Nora is going to have a kind of serious birth control effect on her. And as you know once you have kids, you want everyone you know to start having kids...What you didn't know that? Yes, we what everyone we know to get in the boat with us. I wouldn't say misery loves company, but some variation on that is applicable (without the misery part, maybe).

Uh oh, Oscar the grouch is telling slimy another Trash Gordon story which means I have about 3.2 seconds till the end of the magical hour. If she continues watching TV I am entering "Bad Parenting" territory. I'm already in "Questionable Parenting" land by letting the evil box babysit her for a measly hour.