There’s a turkey among us. November 25, 2009

Preparations for baby and Thanksgiving have got me all up in a tizzy.  We have everything but this damn dresser in the baby’s room.  Bad weather and poor timing have prevented the final trip to Ikea.  But hear you me world, when we get back from Thanksgiving, the first thing we’re doing is driving to Ikea and getting that cursed dresser.

Decorating wise, we’re done.  I finished this project earlier this week.  The letters are all spread out with palm trees flanking the ends.  Really, it’s very precious.

As for the pregnancy, we’re done with birthing classes.  Yesterday, I was informed that nearly anything in a car with a baby in a car seat is a potential projectile and should be thrown out the window.  Who knew mirrors and window shades were dangerous?

Tomorrow is the 38 week mark.  If Baby Mikey decides to poke his little head out tomorrow, I’m going to be pissed.  I have been looking forward to eating Thanksgiving dinner this whole pregnancy.  And by god, I’m going to get it.

No progress expected or noted. November 20, 2009

Had my 37 week visit with my midwife today.  Got the ole cervix examined.  ANNNNNNNNNNNND nothing.  She’s expecting Baby O’Briant to take quite some time exiting the building.  And frankly, I’m ok with that.  As long as he does not poo in his incubator, he can chill for a while longer.  Though I’m sure my dad would love his first grandson to be born on his birthday, that probably won’t be happening.  Nor will Baby Obie be born on his own expected birthday.  Learned that my midwife won’t be inducing labor until at least 9 days over the due date go by.  I am going to have to figure out how long it is safe for him to stew in there past the magic 40-week mark.  Nine days/plus sounds like a bit much, no?

At this point, the husband and I have discussed at length what to pack for the hospital (more or less, it is me saying “Honey, we should probably bring this right?” “Yes dear.”).  We’re following some crap list we found online and customized it to reality. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated at this point.

Sweet dreams. November 18, 2009

Thank god we can’t feel pain in dreams, otherwise I’d probably be opting for  a C-section at this point.  Since our last baby shower (where we got so much stuff I finally feel prepared for baby), I’ve been dreaming of delivering our baby.  It’s always different.  And sometimes, surrogate mothers are delivering him.  However, the strange thing about it is that once he is delivered, he disappears.  Although it is mildly worrisome that my child runs away at will, it isn’t fueling any baby emergency fears.  That would not be good for anyone.

I got to the doctor Friday.  After talking to her at length about the flu shot and the H1N1 vaccine, I have decided to postpone both until Junior arrives.  There have been no drugs in this child thus far (save a few Tylenol) so I am not chancing shots and vaccines while he is still in utero.

Husband got this sweet ass carrier in the mail today. We ordered it from Baby Steals, which is a great website that sells really awesome baby products/baby-related products on the super cheap. For all your preggo moms and dads out there, I recommend the site highly. Book mark it!

Pregnancy portraits have arrived! November 12, 2009

Blog Award!! November 11, 2009

One of my favorite bloggers has given my blog an award!  Considering probably no one else reads this blog, Elisabeth, I award you again!  Obviously, you’ve already done the questionnaire so you don’t have to do that.  Instead, I request that you post pictures of Mr. Squeekers!!!

Here are the rules:
1. You can only use one word!
2. Pass this along to 6 of your favorite bloggers.
3. Alert them that you have given them this award!
4. Have Fun!

The Survey
1. Where is your cell phone? Couch
2. Your hair? Desperate
3. Your mother? Bestie
4. Your father? Hilarious
5. Your favorite food? Sushi
6. Your dream last night? Sweaty
7. Your favorite drink? Milk!!
8. Your dream/goal? Travel
9. What room are you in? Den
10. Your hobby? Crafting
11. Your fear? Abandonement
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Seattle
13. Where were you last night? Bed
14. Something that you aren’t? Virgin (ha!)
15. Muffins? Blueberry
16. Wish list item? Healthy baby
17. Where did you grow up? East
18. Last thing you did? Crafted
19. What are you wearing? Jeans
20. Your TV? Flat
21. Your pets? Husband
22. Friends? Geographically challenged
23. Your life? Pregnant
24. Your mood? Miserable
25. Missing someone? Always
26. Vehicle? Toyota
27. Something you’re not wearing? Parka
28. Your favorite store? Target
29. Your favorite color? Black
30. When was the last time you laughed? Husband
31. Last time you cried? Sunday
32. Your best friend? SamSam
33. One place that I go to over and over? Bathroom
34. One person who e-mails me regularly? Mom
35. Favorite place to eat? Sushi Anywhere

Thank You Cards-a-go-go! November 10, 2009

Don’t Follow my Lead October 30, 2009

In response to my last post regarding piracy, I would like to address to dangers present in illegally downloading music that do not include getting sued for everything you are worth by music companies.

Florida State University, along with any randomly selected university nationally and internationally, have done as much as they can to protect themselves (and you) against pirating maniacs such as myself.  FSU has released their Computer Fair Use Policy in order to prevent any legal repercussions music companies may try and impose on them for a student using a computer on campus to do anything illegal or unsavory. FSU has clarified, however, that “this and all policies and procedures associated with FSU IT resources are not intended to abridge academic freedom, constitutional guarantees of free speech, or freedom of expression”. Just in case you were wondering.

To break it down for you, essentially you cannot use a computer on campus property or use campus internet connections to:
-watch porn or obscene material unless deemed necessary by academic research (What in the world kind of class deems porn viewing necessary?)
-harass others with images, sounds, or messages
-beat the hell out of the physical computer
-”undermine the security or the integrity of computing systems or networks or to attempt to gain unauthorized access”

Consequences are as follows (if in fact you get caught pirating/illegally manhandling university property):
-denial to use of University IT resources
-penalties and disciplinary action both within and outside of the University (i.e. the po-po is coming after you)
-suspension, blocking or restriction to your FSU account (which includes no longer being able to access your Blackboard account, and that’s bad)

Here is a BIG stipulation they put out there not to be ignored:
The University cannot guarantee absolute privacy of electronic communication.

All in all, it’s serious business to pirate music illegally and it is especially dangerous to do it on university property with university resources.

So if you’re going to do it, do it at your own discretion on your own internet on your own computer.

Proud Momma October 29, 2009

Even though it may not appear to be true, I only have 6 weeks left. 

A How To Guide: Let’s Make Illegal (Music) Babies October 29, 2009

There have been enough reports stating that illegal downloads are in fact helping the music industry.  Sean Silverthorne’s interview with Felix Oberholzer-Gee (awesome last name) in 2004 stated that “researchers believe that most downloading is done over peer-to-peer networks by teens and college kids, groups that are “money-poor but time-rich,” meaning they wouldn’t have bought the songs they downloaded. In that sense, the music industry can’t claim those downloads as lost record sales.”  So please, allow me to help boost music sales.  Afterall, I’m only doing my part.

Step One Get yourself a free download of µTorrent. From all the downloaders I’ve used, this one is far and above my fave.

Step Two Run a search in µTorrent for whatever artist/movie/software/etc. you would like to download.

Step Three Rifle through the results and figure out which link houses your download of choice. Generally, ThePirateBay is going to have what you are looking for. Be forewarned that they have been sued recently and their site has been plagued with cookies and trojans. TorrentReactor is pretty great too.

Step Four When this screen pops up (ex: ThePirateBay), click the download link.

Step Five When you are prompted to open the new file, confirm that you want it to open with µTorrent.

Step Six When you see this screen and these words, you’ve reached optimum illegal downloading.

Step Seven OMG You’re almost there!

Step Eight This is the money shot right here kids!

Step Nine It is important to not seed your downloads online again, back where they came from.  This is where people get in trouble.  So click the little red X.  Confirm that you want to remove it from your queue.

Step Ten Locate where your downloaded files have ended up on your computer.  After doing that, you can upload them into whatever mp3 player you have.

CONGRATS! Or should I say ARRRGH!  You are officially a pirate!

The number of illegal music downloads continued to increase—but so did music sales. -Sean Silverthorne

Oh, cry me a river. October 27, 2009

With the pending release of the new Michael Jackson film This is It, the industry is a buzz with how much money this porker is going to rake in.  By my very scientific estimations, I’m thinking it’s going to make more than Heath Ledger’s posthumous appearance in The Dark Knight.  But where there is a hotly anticipated film, there are pirates chomping at the bit to get their hands on Preview tickets.  One of the most lucrative file sharing practices is entering the first night of a film, videotape it, upload it and distribute a terrible, terrible version of a normally already bad film.

Here in lies the problem:  it’s illegal.  Movie execs have tried to circumnavigate this issue by doing simultaneous global film releases.  The only this this prevents is people from seeing it the night the movie opens.  Normally, within six hours of a film opening, I can go to any number of bittorrent or file sharing sites, download it and watch it for free.  And I love free.  And so do the millions of other people worldwide that do the same thing.

Here in lies the next problem: sucking profit from the industry.  Personally, this bothers me as much as the toothpaste splatter on my sink.  It doesn’t.  The movie industry already makes BILLLLLLLIONS of dollars a year regardless of how many films I don’t pay for.  However, considering the crap state of our economy, I suppose I should feel bad for not contributing to the solution.  But, if someone wasn’t charging me $8 to step into a theater, then pay about $14 for popcorn and pop, I’d be less inclined to leech off the internet.  Ya heard?

In a recent article by Michael Lynton, chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures, he states that “Online theft siphons billions of dollars out of the marketplace. That means less money to make movies. Projects get scaled back and others dropped. Some potential blockbusters won’t get made. Some new writers, actors and film-makers won’t get discovered. Last year the leading Hollywood studios made 162 films — more than 40 fewer than in 2006, and the lowest number in a decade.”

My response: cry me a river.  Because that’s what I’m doing over here in my impoverished state. Welcome to it, movie industry.  The water is fine.