Anouchka Talks

A week ago today, my yahbah (dad) finagled an additional ultrasound for me through one of the residents he works with at the university hospital where he is employed.  (Hee haw!   Shookran, Yahbah! )  Sometimes, it pays to be manipulative. That's the hand at the top, giving a "thumbs up" Later that day, I had another pre-natal appointment.  When I spoke with my doctor about the ultrasound, he informed me of the three estimated due dates that they had on record from the various clinical due date calculators they use in his office:  December 27, 30 and 31.  The ultrasound reading stated that Hulk's ETA would be December 30, though she won't technically be considered "late" until January 1. Today is December 30.  Still no signs of drama. These past two nights have been quite gruesome, to say the least.  Saturday night, I spent breathing through intense pelvic cramps between sips of apple juice to keep my mouth from over drying.  Sunday night (las

Something to warm you up as we dive head first into January:   just another summer day in Grey, Iowa

If you are bothered by pregnancy-related, borderline "TMI" language, stop reading now and just scroll down for the recipe.   You have been warned.   (Insert maniacal laugh.) No, I am still not enjoying pregnancy.  Thank you for asking. Our due date is rapidly approaching and I cannot help but beg  God to let Hulk come a little bit early (not too early... healthy  early) for a variety of reasons.  Of course, many of these reasons are selfish, but the main one is that my doctor is going to be out of town on our due date AND the subsequent five days!  This means that if our little booger decides to show up on time or just a few days late (a significant possibility given that this is our first kid), a stranger will be delivering my baby. Dammit. Any pregnant woman is well aware that being "with child" (I have elected to use this term today only because it is Christmastime and Mary was not "knocked up.") basically gives license to almost total stranger

The center of La Cr èche (the Nativity) at Notre Dame de Paris  is surrounded by other santons  (little saints) and people of the community (i.e. the butcher, the baker, the candlestick maker...).  The display fills the sanctuary. Un sapin de Noël  in front of Notre Dame de Paris Un chat  framed by Christmas decorations on a snowy afternoon in Rochejean (French-Swiss border) Le Père  Noël (Father Christmas/Santa Claus) climbs a wall in Rochejean (French-Swiss border). La Grande Rue (Main Street) is rainy, but decked out in decorations for Christmas in Besançon.

Normally at Anouchka Talks , I opt for original writing.  Sometimes that writing is complete shit, but at least it's my own.  No one can accuse me of plagiarizing when I only write in a self-involved manner, as though I'm the only person in the world with thoughts... ...which I often am. Anyway, in light of the recent Thanksgiving holiday, I thought it would be appropriate to share a Thanksgiving-related post.  Some time between the end of October and the beginning of November, I start salivating over the thought of one of the biggest feasts of the American calendar.  However, this past year, I quit eating poultry of all kinds.  I've seen enough of the torture victims throughout America's chicken and turkey farms to make me want to vomit every time a dead bird comes within a foot of my face.  It really is atrocious what we will do to save a couple of dollars.* But I digress.  The bottom line is this:  When you give up poultry, you miss out on a lot of things at T