Monthly Archives: November 2011

I <3 consumerism and Happy Thanksgiving!

Oh, consumerism. YOU WON, GODDAMMIT. All these months of railing against Americans and their STUFF and how I WOULD NOT EVER become like THOSE PEOPLE, and what’s the first thing I did on Thanksgiving morning?

Hopped online to order the last of the electronics we’re taking to Freetown with us.

Damn. Damn. Damn.

I’m taking Bertrand out for Black Friday tonight at midnight. I know, I know, I know. Real people have to work, and they’re rightfully unhappy about it. This is his first Thanksgiving in America, and what is a celebration of all that we are grateful for without an orgy of consumerism at the end?

Our midnight expedition is actually the reason I ordered so many things this morning. With the stress of not having to worry about the TV (yeah, we don’t own one), or a camera (yeah, the baby’s coming), or UPSs (do they even sell those at Target?), or my myriad other purchases, we can sit back and enjoy the trip.

We don’t have to stress about getting the last $item before $item sells out. We don’t have to push and pull to get in line before $deadline and prices go up for $doorbuster. We can people watch, pick up a few small things for the kitchen and bathrooms, and relax.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! Tomorrow is the start of the Christmas season, and I can’t wait to turn on the holiday music!

Accomplish one task per day.

It’s hard to believe that I’ve been creating life for 36 weeks now. Oh, I’m sorry, does the reference to “creating life” sound smug? That’s because it is! Smugness is my only defense against the frustration I’m feeling right now.

Accomplish one task everyday.

Advice to live by, given to Peace Corps Volunteers newly arrived in Benin. I discounted it then because I was in a situation where I could accomplish much much more. Today, with a belly the size of Alaska, achy joints, a lot of soreness, and no possibility of drugs to relieve the discomfort, I’m happy to get one thing done in a day, no matter how small.

Friday, I finished an online class AND applied for my diplomatic passport, AND went grocery shopping. Total walking = about 2.5 miles.

Saturday, I went to brunch AND went to Costco. Total walking = 1.5 miles. I’ve used a pedometer in Costco before, and some days we walk almost a mile inside! Yesterday, only half a mile.

Today, I brunched (again!) AND went to L.L.Bean. I didn’t get the waterproof boots I was hoping to get, as pregnancy swelling apparently has made my already-fat calves too fat for even L.L. Bean Wellies I wanted. I did, however, get some cold-weather baby clothes. I now have no more excuses to freak out about having a baby during an American winter.

I’ve been pretty laissez-faire about food during my pregnancy, focusing more on variety and getting a lot of fruits and vegetables, rather than paying attention to saturated fat and calorie content. Bertrand got some bad news in regards to cholesterol from the doctor the other day, and I’m now in the home stretch, so we’re going to start paying close attention to diet again.

Dinner was baked wings (B’s, pictured, were smothered in BBQ sauce), broiled sweet potato fries, and steamed broccoli sprinkled with delicious cheddar cheese. I probably could have done without following the healthy meal with pumpkin spice ice cream, but hey! pumpkin obsession!

36 weeks on Monday!

Costco frozen pizza is superior to anything we can get delivered here in Crystal City. Yum. As spending time on my feet gets progressively more uncomfortable, we’re getting more and more enthusiastic about dinners that don’t require any effort to make. Like pizza and salad.

Last night we went to a good-bye party for some of my colleagues who are heading out to post this week. My burgeoning belly makes for great conversation, especially since I have no patience for glowing happy OMG pregnancy is AWESOME narratives. I’m uncomfortable. My legs hurt. My abs hurt. My groin hurts. And I can’t sleep through the night because I ALWAYS HAVE TO PEE.

On the other hand, I’m creating life, and that’s kind of awesome.

And here’s a bonus photo: Bertrand saw snow for the first time last weekend!