+ A couple of days ago, I pulled the first carrot from our garden. It was about five inches long, pale orange, and delicious. My dad was over at the time, helping us out with our front porch staining/sealing project, and when I brought the carrot over, he said "let's eat it!", rinsed it off with the garden hose, and took a bite. I had a bite and said "now that's a carrot!" I am going to let the rest of them mature a few more weeks. Now I wish even more that I had sowed them in cycles. The next round won't be ready for two more months, boo. Oh well, live and learn.

+ Speaking of the garden, let us watch my tomato plants explode: May 2 | June 7 | June 28. We are going to need to supplement our puny tomato cages with scaffolding.



+ So I am now getting heartburn at night, regardless of what I've eaten for dinner. This is cured by sleeping in an upright position, like the elephant man. I go to bed propped up on three big pillows, with another under my knees. It's going ok... I can sleep that way. But maybe I should find some OTC medication for the heartburn. I know it's because my stomach is working at that time and being compressed by my uterus, and is throwing acid into my esophagus. Or something. Anyway, then I get up at 2am to pee and can pretty much lay on my side after that. It's a good thing I love this baby so much.

+ Her stroller & car seat will arrive tomorrow!

+ Last night was a night I have waited a year and a half for. We FINALLY got rid of our awful, ugly black kitchen sink and crappy faucet. I have hated that sink since we moved in. I actually dislike all of our black appliances, but the sink was the cheapest to replace and the one I hated the most. A black sink hides dirt and stains and filth, so you don't realize how gross it is until it's REALLY gross. A black sink is a big black hole in the countertop. A black sink camouflages black knife handles. It makes a room darker. Man I hated that goddamn thing. We went to Home Depot and replaced it with a beautiful, sleek, glorious Kohler white enameled cast iron sink. I am in love with it. It's not totally hooked up yet; Brian is going back to get new drain fixtures since the old ones are nasty and falling apart.

In the process of putting in the new sink, we realized that the kitchen windowsill ledge was interfering with the installation of the new faucet. It stuck out so far that it actually impeded the setting of the faucet into the sink. Well, we're homeowners now so, hey, let's just rip out that ugly window sill anyway. So, we did. In its place, I am going to install a pretty row of white ceramic tiles. Wheee!!!!!!

I think if we had the money I would replace EVERYTHING in that kitchen. Appliances, cupboards, counters, floors. Everything. Alas, we donut have that kind of cash. Someday though. Re-doing the kitchen is one of the best places to add value to a home, dontchaknow.

+ While riding in the car on the way home the other day, the baby kicked me so hard that I actually watched my shirt fabric pop up. Hee.

+ I made a carrot cake last weekend. Unfortunately it was not quickly consumed and I am depressed about the leftovers going to waste. Must plan better next time and do cupcakes. Though it was fun to try a layer cake. I took many helpful hints from Martha Stewart.

+ Three day weekend to-dos include: finish up install of sink, clean up kitchen mess. Maybe polish up old sink and see if anyone on craigslist will take it away, cheap. Work in the garden. Work on the future nursery a bit. Practice installing car seat base and removing/replacing car seat. Go to lovely Lynnwood and have lunch with mom, as well as visit Babies R Us to view some registry items in person (no we are not registered there, but Amazon doesn't have a physical store...). And hopefully do some grilling.

+ Finally, check out my adorable dog, blinking in the sun.

I remember watching this live as a kid, when it first aired.



I was ten, and I was a Michael Jackson fan, like almost every other kid in America. I had "Thriller" on cassette, and a poster on my closet door. I realize this was due in part to my MTV addiction and suburban upbringing.

But this video still kinda gives me goosebumps (even more so now that I am pregnant and emotionally vulnerable), nostalgic goosebumps, for a time when this music was new and exciting and Michael Jackson still mostly resembled his original self.

The music of Jackson's first two solo albums with Quincy Jones has aged pretty well. Though I'd argue that "Off the Wall" is actually the superior record, and the one I would download if I wanted to spend money on music right now.

I don't have much else to say on the subject. I haven't been interested in Michael Jackson since I was about eleven years old, and more recently I've found him to be an objectionable human being at best. But I believe that when the dust settles, he will ultimately be remembered as a tragic figure, a worst-case scenario emerging from the deadly cocktail of horrific child abuse, stratospheric fame at an early age, untreated mental illness, and lots of money.