Friday, June 28, 2013
14 Books to Read Before They Hit The Big Screen
14 Books to Read Before They Hit the Big Screen
I've said before I'm a "read the book before seeing the movie/tv show" kinda gal, so when the above link was posted to my facebook wall by my bestie (Thanks Erin!), I read it as soon as I saw it there. Then I began a long winded reply to her post only to realize that it was going to be a ridiculously long reply... so... here we are.
1) Divergent - I HATE when the do the "The next (insert movie/book/tv show title here)"! Why does it need to be compared to something that already exists? And why would I want to see another movie that is the same as a movie I already liked? That whole sales pitch makes me want to avoid the book and the movie all together... BUT....it has Shailene Woodley in it... and I like her. Well, I liked her in The Descendants, which is the only movie I have ever seen her in, but she was a scene stealer in that one, and that's a big deal when she is opposite George Clooney.
2) Ender's Game - I loved this book, I made Roland read it and he loved it too. This one comes out in November, so I'm hoping we can go to it as a 3rd Anniversary date (I'm sure their uniforms have some leather on them, right? So that qualifies for the Leather Anniversary I figure ;) )
3) The Mortal Instruments - Not interested. I saw the trailer for this one before some movie I saw in the theatre, recognized it as a book title, but have no intention of reading the book or seeing the movie. I thought the trailer looked dumb. So I'll pass on that one.
4) The Fault in Our Stars - See? Shailene Woodley popped up again? The short description of the novel (hadn't heard of it before this) makes it look interesting. So that one's a maybe. I'll add it to the list, read the book, and see if I like it enough to see the movie.
5) The Maze Runner - This is another book I had never heard of before... meh... I'm not too enthused by the description. Kinda sounds a bit too much like Hunger Games, but with strictly boys. We'll see when a trailer comes out...
6) The Wolf of Wallstreet - Have I mentioned that I LOVE Leo DiCaprio? I would totally not mind having his babies. I fell in love with him after he did Baz Luhrmann's Romeo & Juliet when I saw it in Grade 9 (by myself, in the theatre, because no one else was interested in going to a Shakespeare movie with me), and then my love for him waned a bit, I found Jim Sturgess, who became my Hollywood boyfriend after Leo and I became estranged... I mean, I always loved his movies. He is a fabulous actor. But I just lost my lust for him... until I saw Baz Luhrmann's most recent. The Great Gatsby. OH LORDY! SWOONING! He totally won back my heart. The vulnerability he showed in this movie... I haven't seen him do anything like that ever. So hot... um... wait... what was I talking about?... Oh right. Wolf of Wallstreet... I'm not sure about the book... it sounds like it's aimed at a male audience. So... that can be something to overcome sometimes... but I might do it for Leo. Gotta support the boyfriend, ya know... And Jonah Hill is Ok... and Matthew McConaughey is alright sometimes...
7) Gone Girl - This book is already on my list of "to-read"s. I read about this one on a couple of occasions and it sounds pretty good. I decided I wanted to read a couple of other Flynn books first though. I don't think they are a series, but it seems like there is an order for some reason... maybe in a future book she'll connect all the stories? Reese Witherspoon had actually written one of the reviews I had read, which I think is why she is rumoured to be connected to this one. I wouldn't hold my breath. But we'll see. I like Ms. Witherspoon.
8) The Monuments Men - This one may be targeted at a male audience again. That is my only reservation. I think the actors are great and the story sounds like a good one.
9) The Book Thief - I remember liking this one when I read it, but I can't tell you much about it now. I read it during my internship and I think I was losing my mind a little, so I didn't retain much. I own it, so I will read it again before the movie comes out. I will probably go to see this one.
10) Serena - There is a lot of hype around this one because Jennifer Lawrence and Bradly Cooper reunite after Silver Linings Playbook... Personally, I am rather nonplussed. I wasn't a big fan of SLP, so I don't care that they are in this movie together too. Ron Rash can be good though, and if I am not mistaken, this one involves some pregnancy loss topics, so I will add this one to the "to-read" list, but it's not a top priority.
11) Horns - Gawd... really? Frick that looks stupid... Not to mention that there are some issues I have with the concept. Traditionally in literature, someone that has "horns" is someone that has been cuckolded, meaning that their significant other has cheated on them (generally, it's the woman that is sleeping around so the man is the cuckold. I'm not sure if there is a term for a female cuckold). I really don't think having your girlfriend raped and murdered makes you a cuckold... I just really don't like what this premise is saying knowing that background... Pass.
12) If I Stay - This one looks delightfully interesting! I will definitely add this to the "to read" pile. See how I like it before I commit to seeing the movie.
13) The Spectacular Now - (Whoever wrote this list of movies coming out really has a hard-on for Shailene Woodley) Maybe. I'll wait for a trailer to decide with this one too... but it does have promise.
14) Reconstructing Amelia - Here's the thing that bothers me about Nicole Kidman... she's had so much freakin' botox or something that she can't show facial expressions anymore. I swear. It looks like it's a great effort for her to frown. So... I find it tough to watch her in movies. The book sounds good though, so that's another one for the "to-read" pile...
MAN! You can totally tell that my life has taken a hit in the "free time" sector when I'm not even familiar with many of these titles and have only read two of them... or maybe it's that I've been out of the bookstore biz for too long....
Let me know if you have read any of these! I am interested to know what other people think of any of them! It may change my opinion on whether to read them or not. :)
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Sunset Rain!
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| Check it out! You can actually see the rain in this picture :) |
And I would like to apologize for all of the rain we've been having. I know it's my fault, but I can't regret it. Love it SO much... although it would be nice to have a slight reprieve at a time when Roland is home or Rosalie is sleeping so that I can weed my garden....
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
A Song of Ice and Fire: Book 1 - Game of Thrones
Summers span decades. Winter can last a lifetime. And the struggle for the Iron Throne has begun.
As Warden of the north, Lord Eddard Stark counts it a curse when King Robert bestows on him the office of the Hand. His honour weighs him down at court where a true man does what he will, not what he must … and a dead enemy is a thing of beauty.
The old gods have no power in the south, Stark’s family is split and there is treachery at court. Worse, the vengeance-mad heir of the deposed Dragon King has grown to maturity in exile in the Free Cities. He claims the Iron Throne.
I am not one much for Fantasy, I would not state it is even close to being my favourite genre, but I never write anything off. I'm sure there has been at least one book in almost every genre that I can say that I like, so I can't say that I dislike any genre. If I can't say that there is a book in a certain genre I like, maybe I just haven't met the right book yet.
However I can honestly say that I don't go browsing in the Sci Fi/Fantasy section at McNally.
I feel that this book is a complete mixture of several genres. It is clearly "mostly" fantasy, but there are elements that make it seem historical, but I particularly enjoyed the mystery aspect of it. There is this great crime that needs to be solved and there are clues given to the reader throughout the story, a detective-like character that goes and interviews involved persons, etc, etc. (the funny part is I'm not really a fan of Mysteries either) There is also a Horror element to it as well -- creatures similar to zombies are becoming more evident in the savage north while men of high honour are in the south playing politics.
Complaints I've heard about these novels are split between two reasons. The first is that Martin doesn't write anything that hasn't been done in a Fantasy genre before, and the second is that there are so many characters that it is hard to keep track of who is who.
The thing about complaining that it's nothing new in this book is that most of any type of book is not "new". Shakespeare was just rehashing themes that were already done in his time... so we are pretty much screwed for "new" concepts. Plus, having stated that I am not generally a fan of the Fantasy genre, it was new to me. So take that.
It is true that there are lots of characters in this book, and some of them have similar names (Viserys, Varys... Syrio, Semly... and many others), and they could be hard to keep track of, but I didn't have any trouble. This may have been because I read a lot, so I am more adept at remembering names, or it could be that because I knew that there was going to be a lot of characters to keep straight, I took more care in remembering whom related to whom and how.
Honestly though, it was a great book. Beware of the amount of violence and gore, but otherwise great for almost everyone.
On to book two!
Saturday, June 22, 2013
Babies Evolutionary Miracles...
Sometimes it astonishes me that the continuance of our species is reliant on our babies...
Seriously, if these little munchkins were to follow The Survival of the Fittest model, our species would no longer exist. It is an absolute miracle that more of them don't die from just being curious and having sleep deprived or very busy parents.
I noticed the other day when I was weeding my veggie patch that, no matter where in the yard I left Rose to play, she would always be at my side within a minute... generally grabbing for the spades. If I put her down and want her to stay somewhere, she doesn't. There could be glass shattered all over the kitchen and if I put her in the livingroom to clean up, I would turn around after grabbing the dustpan and she would be right there, probably reaching for the shards of glass. I would need to strap her into her highchair to keep her safe. If I was a mamma deer, I could leave my baby deer in a spot and the baby deer would lie down and stay there, and not move until mamma deer comes back, right? Why don't baby humans do that?
Another thing is that anything I tell her she can't have, she wants more... Especially dangerous thing apparently. We have a childproof latch for our cupboard under the sink and Rosalie has a 6th sense for when I have forgotten to latch it again. She has yet to get anything into her mouth, but loves eyeing up the dishwasher soap, grease drippings, and plant food, among other things... I don't think these things are horribly poisonous (our cleaning cupboard is up WAY higher), but if they were, I'm sure she would be that much more dedicated to getting them.
Sometimes I chase her in the style of different animals to see how she reacts. I don't really WANT to scare her, but sometimes it surprises me if she isn't. Like the time I chased her Velociraptor style. (It's probably a good thing no one else saw me, I probably looked ridiculous) That should be TOTALLY SCARY to a toddler! But she just smiles, squeals, and crawls faster toward whatever bad thing she was planning on doing. I don't think it's because she is playing scared either. I think it's because if she doesn't do that bad thing quickly I will stop her... so she has to get there fast.
In all seriousness, the reason they don't die is because human adults are (generally) intelligent beings, and they do all of the protecting so that our babies can do INSANE things and we will always save them. Plus humans aren't really prey animals. But I think that wolf pack puppies are pretty good at staying put and not eating that poisonous plant over there... freakin' human babies... ;)
Seriously, if these little munchkins were to follow The Survival of the Fittest model, our species would no longer exist. It is an absolute miracle that more of them don't die from just being curious and having sleep deprived or very busy parents.
I noticed the other day when I was weeding my veggie patch that, no matter where in the yard I left Rose to play, she would always be at my side within a minute... generally grabbing for the spades. If I put her down and want her to stay somewhere, she doesn't. There could be glass shattered all over the kitchen and if I put her in the livingroom to clean up, I would turn around after grabbing the dustpan and she would be right there, probably reaching for the shards of glass. I would need to strap her into her highchair to keep her safe. If I was a mamma deer, I could leave my baby deer in a spot and the baby deer would lie down and stay there, and not move until mamma deer comes back, right? Why don't baby humans do that?
Another thing is that anything I tell her she can't have, she wants more... Especially dangerous thing apparently. We have a childproof latch for our cupboard under the sink and Rosalie has a 6th sense for when I have forgotten to latch it again. She has yet to get anything into her mouth, but loves eyeing up the dishwasher soap, grease drippings, and plant food, among other things... I don't think these things are horribly poisonous (our cleaning cupboard is up WAY higher), but if they were, I'm sure she would be that much more dedicated to getting them.
Sometimes I chase her in the style of different animals to see how she reacts. I don't really WANT to scare her, but sometimes it surprises me if she isn't. Like the time I chased her Velociraptor style. (It's probably a good thing no one else saw me, I probably looked ridiculous) That should be TOTALLY SCARY to a toddler! But she just smiles, squeals, and crawls faster toward whatever bad thing she was planning on doing. I don't think it's because she is playing scared either. I think it's because if she doesn't do that bad thing quickly I will stop her... so she has to get there fast.
In all seriousness, the reason they don't die is because human adults are (generally) intelligent beings, and they do all of the protecting so that our babies can do INSANE things and we will always save them. Plus humans aren't really prey animals. But I think that wolf pack puppies are pretty good at staying put and not eating that poisonous plant over there... freakin' human babies... ;)
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
Thunder and Lightning
I recently went for lunch with a friend of mine (my birthday twin in fact) that is part of the Canadian Military and did a tour in Afghanistan a couple of years ago.
I asked what it was like being there and if it was scary, and was told that if you aren't scared, then there is something wrong with you. But at times they would be sitting around having conversations, laughing, enjoying one another's company and all of a sudden a missile would go over head, and all of a sudden they would be brought back to reality. Dorothy, you're not in Saskatchewan anymore...
I also remember reading an article in the Star Phoenix (maybe last year?) about a Canadian University Student who went to Syria or Libya or some place that was having a civil war on a volunteer basis because her family was from there and she wanted to go help people during these troubled times. She said that at first the sound of bombs and missiles and gunfire scared her, but as she spent more time there it began to be a comfort at night to know that the rebels were still fighting for a better world. It meant that there was still hope.
Last night as I lay in bed and listened to the thunderstorm, counting seconds between the booms, loving every second, I thought of both of these stories, and was thankful I was listening to the sounds of typical Saskatchewan weather conditions, rather than something so scary and violent. Thankful that I have a roof over my head to protect me from the discomforts that these weather conditions would provide if I were outside or in a less stable home. Thankful that I live in a country, that for the most part, is peaceful and safe. Overall, just thankful that I was lucky enough to be born in Canada...
I asked what it was like being there and if it was scary, and was told that if you aren't scared, then there is something wrong with you. But at times they would be sitting around having conversations, laughing, enjoying one another's company and all of a sudden a missile would go over head, and all of a sudden they would be brought back to reality. Dorothy, you're not in Saskatchewan anymore...
~*~
I also remember reading an article in the Star Phoenix (maybe last year?) about a Canadian University Student who went to Syria or Libya or some place that was having a civil war on a volunteer basis because her family was from there and she wanted to go help people during these troubled times. She said that at first the sound of bombs and missiles and gunfire scared her, but as she spent more time there it began to be a comfort at night to know that the rebels were still fighting for a better world. It meant that there was still hope.
~*~
Last night as I lay in bed and listened to the thunderstorm, counting seconds between the booms, loving every second, I thought of both of these stories, and was thankful I was listening to the sounds of typical Saskatchewan weather conditions, rather than something so scary and violent. Thankful that I have a roof over my head to protect me from the discomforts that these weather conditions would provide if I were outside or in a less stable home. Thankful that I live in a country, that for the most part, is peaceful and safe. Overall, just thankful that I was lucky enough to be born in Canada...
Friday, June 14, 2013
I May Have Pissed Off the Rain Gods....
... or made them VERY happy. I'm not totally sure which...
I am doing a charity bike ride tomorrow to raise money for the Saskatchewan Children's Hospital Foundation with a bunch of people from work... and now there is a rainfall warning of 50 - 80 mms. So... that'll be... fun...
I mean, I knew that the Weather Network has been forecasting rain for Saturday since last weekend, but I was hoping it would change, as it so often does in Saskatchewan. And then I went and made a claim of loving rain, and now it is going to pour for 3 days straight.
Not that I am complaining. Had this been another weekend where I was NOT riding my bike 130 kms I would have been stoked. I would probably be able to make a pretty hefty dent in this massive book I'm reading, but there is too much going on this weekend and I won't have tons of time to read unfortunately. I can make a small dent, but not a huge one.
Hmm... I wonder if I'll need a canoe instead of a bike tomorrow... Anyone in the mood to build an arc? :)
I am doing a charity bike ride tomorrow to raise money for the Saskatchewan Children's Hospital Foundation with a bunch of people from work... and now there is a rainfall warning of 50 - 80 mms. So... that'll be... fun...
I mean, I knew that the Weather Network has been forecasting rain for Saturday since last weekend, but I was hoping it would change, as it so often does in Saskatchewan. And then I went and made a claim of loving rain, and now it is going to pour for 3 days straight.
Not that I am complaining. Had this been another weekend where I was NOT riding my bike 130 kms I would have been stoked. I would probably be able to make a pretty hefty dent in this massive book I'm reading, but there is too much going on this weekend and I won't have tons of time to read unfortunately. I can make a small dent, but not a huge one.
Hmm... I wonder if I'll need a canoe instead of a bike tomorrow... Anyone in the mood to build an arc? :)
Thursday, June 13, 2013
I'm Only Happy When it Rains.
I'm Only Happy When it Rains...
This is the title of a song by the band Garbage that came out when I was in highschool. I was a somewhat reserved fan of the song then, but I have always loved the title. Although it isn't entirely true of me, I do think it holds some weight.
I am not ONLY happy when it rains, but I do enjoy a good rainstorm, thunder too if it comes to that. So many people complain when we get too many rainy days in a summer. It's like we really didn't get a summer this year they say. I disagree. I don't like +35 weather every day, even if I am at the lake. I like a good indoor rain day. And I'd rather have a rainy indoor day, than a chilly, overcast, rain-free indoor day. The rain makes everything nice and green, and I also have every excuse to stay inside and read. Which is basically what I am doing today. (I'm reading the A Song of Ice and Fire series, I'm loving it, but Game of Thrones is a large book, and is taking me longer than expected, so this rainy day will be put to great use ;) ) Rainy days are a book lover's delight I tells ya!
Rain, Rain... [bunch of omitted lyrics].. come again another day!
This is the title of a song by the band Garbage that came out when I was in highschool. I was a somewhat reserved fan of the song then, but I have always loved the title. Although it isn't entirely true of me, I do think it holds some weight.
I am not ONLY happy when it rains, but I do enjoy a good rainstorm, thunder too if it comes to that. So many people complain when we get too many rainy days in a summer. It's like we really didn't get a summer this year they say. I disagree. I don't like +35 weather every day, even if I am at the lake. I like a good indoor rain day. And I'd rather have a rainy indoor day, than a chilly, overcast, rain-free indoor day. The rain makes everything nice and green, and I also have every excuse to stay inside and read. Which is basically what I am doing today. (I'm reading the A Song of Ice and Fire series, I'm loving it, but Game of Thrones is a large book, and is taking me longer than expected, so this rainy day will be put to great use ;) ) Rainy days are a book lover's delight I tells ya!
The above picture was taken out of my patio door today. It's a shame it's so hard to get a good picture of the rain, because when I took this it was pouring! But it just looks wet... you can see a few of the drops on the deck though, but it looked white with rain when I was sitting at the computer.
The following picture is from Saturday. I had been BEGGING for rain for weeks, and it took a while to show up. It was supposed to rain Friday, but this one is from Saturday morning. Roland was complaining because he would rather it be rainy on a weekday instead of ruining his weekend, but I was just happy it was raining. Period.
I guess it's a bit against the norm to love the rain SO much, but I suppose it's all in balance. If it rained EVERY DAY ALL SUMMER, I would lose my mind. But if it were to rain one day a week all summer I would think it was the best summer ever. Like, a REAL downpour rain, not, like, a little 5 minute shower. That's balls... Although I like the occasional sun-shower too...
I think Kauai has the best weather ever because it rains almost every day there. If it rains during the day they are almost always sun-showers, and it would rain almost every night and then smell SO fabulous the next morning. Everything smelled so clean! Whereas in Saskatoon, the rain just makes it smell like wet city. But I suppose that is still better than dusty, dry city.
Rain, Rain... [bunch of omitted lyrics].. come again another day!
Thursday, June 6, 2013
Pregnancy Shaming?
Maybe I shouldn't be so irked by this, but this REALLY bothered me for some reason...
Article: 10 Things Pregnant Women Lie About
A short version of this list came up on my news feed on Facebook today and then linked to the complete list.
Overall, the fact that this list exists, insults me, as a former pregnant woman. Things like these make it seem that pregnant women are untrustworthy and lie at any opportunity. "Don't trust anything a pregnant woman tells you about pregnancy!" Last time I checked, every pregancy is different, just as every child is different, so if someone tells you that pregnancy is awesome and you have a horrible one, that does not mean she was lying... it means that you are not the same person. SURPRISE!
Ok, but honestly, let's go through this list one by one...
1) They're not pregnant...
As someone who did withold her pregnancy until I was ready to reveal it, it's not fair that this is even on this list. Since when has keeping information about yourself to yourself been a crime? And also, considering the commonality of pregnancy losses, why should we have to tell the world as soon as we know when it's possible that we might have to let everyone know that we have suffered a horrible devastation and have that awkward conversation where no one knows what to say? And as far as celebrities go, it makes sense for them to wait until the last possible second to let the public know because they are committing themselves to be harassed by the paparazzi and losing all privacy. Look at the Duchess of Cambridge! I feel bad that she couldn't keep it private for longer. People love babies, and people love pregnancy. Keeping it to yourself is not something you should be ashamed of doing... And if someone is asking just tell them to mind their own business. Or make them uncomfortable by looking hurt and asking "Do I LOOK pregnant?", hopefully they will just assume you are not and awkwardly tell you otherwise.
2) They don't care if it's a boy or a girl
Seriously, some people don't. I know when I was preggers with Rosalie, I was kinda rooting for a girl. But if we are fortunate enough to be blessed with another baby, I will not care what gender it is. Either has it's benefits now. I would love to break out all of Rosalie's baby clothes again. She has some really great ones. But I love the boys name we had picked out "just in case", and it would be disappointing if we didn't get to use it. Plus, I think I would love a little boy so differently from Rosalie that I wouldn't feel guilty about having another baby... I dunno if that makes sense... but whatever... Oh yeah, back on topic. Yes, some people actually don't care either way. Not necessarily a lie.
3) They haven't gained much weight.
Um... I didn't. And actually the more moms I talked to, the more they said they gained WAY more than I did. One mom from work said she gained 75 lbs and really had to work her butt off (almost literally) to get rid of all of that weight after. I gained 35 lbs. No word of a lie, and if on the next one I gain 75 lbs, I will tell y'all about it.
4) They LOOOOOVE being pregnant.
I sorta mentioned this one already, because I think it bothers me the most. I DID love being pregnant. But now I am just a liar, because apparently NO ONE loves being pregnant. I missed being pregnant almost right after Rosalie was born. I loved feeling her move, and hearing her heartbeat on the doppler... It was just awesome. I never had that "GET THIS KID OUT OF ME!" feeling that so many women have. I was a week overdue and I probably could have gone another week... although I don't think Roland would have been able to handle that, what with the mood swings and all... So yes, some people do have good pregnancies. Just because they say they love it does not mean that they are lying.
5) They adore every baby gift they were given.
Ok... maybe not. BUT I took the perspective that every baby gift Rosalie was given was meant to help her grow and was given with the most love possible. I got a swaddling blanket that are considered very dangerous and cause hip dysplasia and stuff, but I still loved it because the woman who gave it to me thought it would help! My mother in law gave Rosalie a book with a bunch of Bible verses in it. I will never read it to her, but it was a VERY thoughtful gift coming from my extremely christian mother-in-law. These gifts were totally from the heart. So how can you not love them?
6) They're SO excited.
Yes. I was! I was nervous too, but for the most part I was TOTALLY excited. I was even excited for the labour and I knew that was going to hurt like a bitch. This was an experience that was totally life changing, and for all I know I may only get to experience it once. I think that honestly, most soon-to-be parents are excited by the prospect of their new baby.
7) They quit smoking.
Well, I have never smoked in my life, so I would hope that people would believe me when I say I never smoked through-out my whole pregnancy.
I could see people not admitting to continuing to smoke, but honestly, I know that quitting smoking is hard, and if you try to quit cold turkey you may end up harming your baby more with elevated levels of stress than what the smoking would have done. Yes, it lowers birth weight and may cause asthma and other problems, but stress can cause a pregnancy loss... so... take that as you will. And the only reason women would lie about this is because of the judgement they would receive for admitting the truth. So if someone lies to you about quitting smoking, maybe you should ask yourself why they think you would judge them so harshly.
8) They don't have a name picked out quite yet.
The number of times I have heard about people stealing other pregnant couple's names... I don't think it's unreasonable to keep it a secret. I guess I just dealt with this one differently. I told people we knew, but didn't tell them the name outright. I gave hints (I think only two. 1) It started with R and 2) It was Roland's aunt's name), and some people guessed it right, but that wasn't confirmed until after she was born. I don't think I will do the guessing game next time around for a couple reasons. I was a bit disappointed when people guessed right. I wanted people to be like "OH! I never would have thought of that", but that's not what happened. I also liked a lot of the names that people came up with, but I don't want my kids to start with the same initial, so they are not in the running for next time (I really liked Riley and Rebecca, because they went so well with our last name)
9) They can't wait to breastfeed their baby
I was TOTALLY looking forward to breastfeeding! And I am going to miss it when Rosalie is weaned (we are trying to wean her of one of her four daily feeds, but I always cave and nurse her when she doesn't drink much from the bottle. But I am also NOT going to be one of those mom's that breastfeeds her kids until they are six. I promise. That's just weird and creepy in my opinion) But seriously, breastfeeding is SO awesome for so many reasons, but can also be extremely difficult. It's not super easy to start off with, but once you get the hang of it it's the easiest thing in the world. So much bonding. So much nourishment. Totally fab.
10) They plan to go back to work once their maternity leave is up.
I honestly thought I would go back, but life after your pregnancy is so different from before. You have no idea what you are in for, and have no idea just how much you can love a little person. I mean, you know you will love them, but the world basically rises and sets with them. Well, that's how I feel about Rosalie anyway. It's shocking really how much I love her. Never knew that much love was possible.
Ok, so now I've made my point. I don't think I lied about any of these things, but this article is basically telling people to not believe me. That because I [was] a pregnant woman, I am not truthful with these responses. I disagree. And please don't roll your eyes or disbelieve a pregnant woman if she gives you these responses, because they may very well be true. Some people lie, but I like to think that most people do not. Also if you are pregnant, don't feel the need to lie to any of these things, but if you do, I am sure you have a good reason for it, and I, for one, accept that.
Article: 10 Things Pregnant Women Lie About
A short version of this list came up on my news feed on Facebook today and then linked to the complete list.
Overall, the fact that this list exists, insults me, as a former pregnant woman. Things like these make it seem that pregnant women are untrustworthy and lie at any opportunity. "Don't trust anything a pregnant woman tells you about pregnancy!" Last time I checked, every pregancy is different, just as every child is different, so if someone tells you that pregnancy is awesome and you have a horrible one, that does not mean she was lying... it means that you are not the same person. SURPRISE!
Ok, but honestly, let's go through this list one by one...
1) They're not pregnant...
As someone who did withold her pregnancy until I was ready to reveal it, it's not fair that this is even on this list. Since when has keeping information about yourself to yourself been a crime? And also, considering the commonality of pregnancy losses, why should we have to tell the world as soon as we know when it's possible that we might have to let everyone know that we have suffered a horrible devastation and have that awkward conversation where no one knows what to say? And as far as celebrities go, it makes sense for them to wait until the last possible second to let the public know because they are committing themselves to be harassed by the paparazzi and losing all privacy. Look at the Duchess of Cambridge! I feel bad that she couldn't keep it private for longer. People love babies, and people love pregnancy. Keeping it to yourself is not something you should be ashamed of doing... And if someone is asking just tell them to mind their own business. Or make them uncomfortable by looking hurt and asking "Do I LOOK pregnant?", hopefully they will just assume you are not and awkwardly tell you otherwise.
2) They don't care if it's a boy or a girl
Seriously, some people don't. I know when I was preggers with Rosalie, I was kinda rooting for a girl. But if we are fortunate enough to be blessed with another baby, I will not care what gender it is. Either has it's benefits now. I would love to break out all of Rosalie's baby clothes again. She has some really great ones. But I love the boys name we had picked out "just in case", and it would be disappointing if we didn't get to use it. Plus, I think I would love a little boy so differently from Rosalie that I wouldn't feel guilty about having another baby... I dunno if that makes sense... but whatever... Oh yeah, back on topic. Yes, some people actually don't care either way. Not necessarily a lie.
3) They haven't gained much weight.
Um... I didn't. And actually the more moms I talked to, the more they said they gained WAY more than I did. One mom from work said she gained 75 lbs and really had to work her butt off (almost literally) to get rid of all of that weight after. I gained 35 lbs. No word of a lie, and if on the next one I gain 75 lbs, I will tell y'all about it.
4) They LOOOOOVE being pregnant.
I sorta mentioned this one already, because I think it bothers me the most. I DID love being pregnant. But now I am just a liar, because apparently NO ONE loves being pregnant. I missed being pregnant almost right after Rosalie was born. I loved feeling her move, and hearing her heartbeat on the doppler... It was just awesome. I never had that "GET THIS KID OUT OF ME!" feeling that so many women have. I was a week overdue and I probably could have gone another week... although I don't think Roland would have been able to handle that, what with the mood swings and all... So yes, some people do have good pregnancies. Just because they say they love it does not mean that they are lying.
5) They adore every baby gift they were given.
Ok... maybe not. BUT I took the perspective that every baby gift Rosalie was given was meant to help her grow and was given with the most love possible. I got a swaddling blanket that are considered very dangerous and cause hip dysplasia and stuff, but I still loved it because the woman who gave it to me thought it would help! My mother in law gave Rosalie a book with a bunch of Bible verses in it. I will never read it to her, but it was a VERY thoughtful gift coming from my extremely christian mother-in-law. These gifts were totally from the heart. So how can you not love them?
6) They're SO excited.
Yes. I was! I was nervous too, but for the most part I was TOTALLY excited. I was even excited for the labour and I knew that was going to hurt like a bitch. This was an experience that was totally life changing, and for all I know I may only get to experience it once. I think that honestly, most soon-to-be parents are excited by the prospect of their new baby.
7) They quit smoking.
Well, I have never smoked in my life, so I would hope that people would believe me when I say I never smoked through-out my whole pregnancy.
I could see people not admitting to continuing to smoke, but honestly, I know that quitting smoking is hard, and if you try to quit cold turkey you may end up harming your baby more with elevated levels of stress than what the smoking would have done. Yes, it lowers birth weight and may cause asthma and other problems, but stress can cause a pregnancy loss... so... take that as you will. And the only reason women would lie about this is because of the judgement they would receive for admitting the truth. So if someone lies to you about quitting smoking, maybe you should ask yourself why they think you would judge them so harshly.
8) They don't have a name picked out quite yet.
The number of times I have heard about people stealing other pregnant couple's names... I don't think it's unreasonable to keep it a secret. I guess I just dealt with this one differently. I told people we knew, but didn't tell them the name outright. I gave hints (I think only two. 1) It started with R and 2) It was Roland's aunt's name), and some people guessed it right, but that wasn't confirmed until after she was born. I don't think I will do the guessing game next time around for a couple reasons. I was a bit disappointed when people guessed right. I wanted people to be like "OH! I never would have thought of that", but that's not what happened. I also liked a lot of the names that people came up with, but I don't want my kids to start with the same initial, so they are not in the running for next time (I really liked Riley and Rebecca, because they went so well with our last name)
9) They can't wait to breastfeed their baby
I was TOTALLY looking forward to breastfeeding! And I am going to miss it when Rosalie is weaned (we are trying to wean her of one of her four daily feeds, but I always cave and nurse her when she doesn't drink much from the bottle. But I am also NOT going to be one of those mom's that breastfeeds her kids until they are six. I promise. That's just weird and creepy in my opinion) But seriously, breastfeeding is SO awesome for so many reasons, but can also be extremely difficult. It's not super easy to start off with, but once you get the hang of it it's the easiest thing in the world. So much bonding. So much nourishment. Totally fab.
10) They plan to go back to work once their maternity leave is up.
I honestly thought I would go back, but life after your pregnancy is so different from before. You have no idea what you are in for, and have no idea just how much you can love a little person. I mean, you know you will love them, but the world basically rises and sets with them. Well, that's how I feel about Rosalie anyway. It's shocking really how much I love her. Never knew that much love was possible.
Ok, so now I've made my point. I don't think I lied about any of these things, but this article is basically telling people to not believe me. That because I [was] a pregnant woman, I am not truthful with these responses. I disagree. And please don't roll your eyes or disbelieve a pregnant woman if she gives you these responses, because they may very well be true. Some people lie, but I like to think that most people do not. Also if you are pregnant, don't feel the need to lie to any of these things, but if you do, I am sure you have a good reason for it, and I, for one, accept that.
Saturday, June 1, 2013
I Feel a Bookfession coming on...
Haven't done one of these in a while! I'm working night shifts right now, and that makes it difficult to think, so I figured this was a good option today.
This is more true of my former life as a single, childless, student. But I did this all the time. Depending on who I was talking to, I might actually confess that I was just finishing up a book I really liked, or sometimes I would pull out the "I have an early class tomorrow" or "I'm working in the morning" or "sorry I already showered and am in my PJs"... only guys wouldn't understand the last one...
NOW, however, I have this clutch called a baby. If she's in bed, I'm at home, most likely snuggled into bed with a book, although generally I can only get through a chapter before I'm konked and need to go to sleep... ahhh the life of a 30-something parent....
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