Notes From Home Plate

The Christmas Problem

Published on by Lisa

Last month I joined Facebook (an online social networking thingy that’s oodles of fun and lets you keep in touch with your best friend from pre-school on the east coast) and have been putting weekly plugs in Nick’s ear to join as well. His worry: it might be too much work.

(It requires you to periodically check an online account and click a button that says, “Yes this person _______ is my friend.” CLICK. _______ is added to your friend list.
Nick still maintains this is work.)

I posted this picture on my Facebook account and entitled it, “The Christmas Problem,” and promised to name the tree after whomever gave the best advice on how to move forward. Here’s the background:

Nick and I were debating about fake vs. real trees. Of course we have completely different opinions. Nick grew up with the former. I grew up with the latter. I wanted the latter. Nick wanted the former. You can guess how this debate went. Finally, Nick said, “I just don’t want our house to burn down.” Apparently this happens more with real trees? I’m not sure of that, but it sounded pretty convincing so we decided artificial is the way to go.

So I’m out hunting for deals and spot the last 9ft. artificial tree in the window ON SALE! Of course, I can’t pass that down, so I put on my aggressive face and elbow my way to the counter. She tells me there are none left. Sold out.

I end up buying the display and am so proud of my timing and skills on the Super Tall tree that I speed home to show Nick our newest purchase. Not wanting to spoil my excited blabbering about my great deal, he smiles encouragingly and pats my shoulder. His eyes flicker a bit when I boast that it’s 9ft tall. “How’s that going to fit?”

I immediately think, “Well, you turn it sideways and walk through the door. Getting it in won’t be THAT hard.”

He sees my confused look and clarifies, “The ceiling. We probably don’t have 10ft. ceilings.”

We don’t?

No. (Take a look at the picture.) We don’t.

So, after a week of having a tilted tree, we ended up taking out the middle section so it now stands at a boring 7.5ft.

I never received so many messages via Facebook about The Christmas Problem. The suggestions ranged from cutting a hole in either the ceiling or floor to sawing the middle pole. Amazing how no one suggested taking out one section. That was my idea.

SOOOO, I guess I’ll name it after me: The Lisa Problem.

Nick’s Sick

Published on by Lisa

He’s snoring like a whale, poor guy. He wasn’t feeling that great over Thanksgiving weekend, but he mustered up all his strength to fully participate in all family events.

We returned to our beloved Cleveland and it was downhill from there. I woke up this morning to his ragged breathing and him poking me in the arm, “Leese? Could you get get me some medicine? And orange juice? And bread to make toast? And starter logs to make a fire? And some movies from Blockbuster?”

Now while some people don’t like when their spouses ask them to do things, I absolutely adore it and jump at the chance to buy him things. Nick is so low maintenance that I get a thrill from buying him cold medicine. In all the years I’ve known Nick, this is probably the 4th time he’s ever asked me to do something for him. Feeling domestic and all wife-like, I happily oblige.

And so I made him soup and stocked up on meds. We watched movie after movie today and had a roaring fire to keep warm.

He missed work today and since I am happily unemployed for the time being, I enjoyed the rare company in the house.

Here’s a few photos of our first Thanksgiving in our house with my side of the family. It took place the Sunday before Thanksgiving. I was proud to host our first holiday and cooked my heart out. Click here for pics.

GO BUCKS

Published on by Lisa

Sorry for the profane ending…but the video’s still good :)

I shall be making the Anthony Gonzalez chicken in honor of my all-time favorite OSU player. (Go Colts.)

Arroz con pollo (Rice with Chicken)

One of Anthony Gonzalez’s favorite recipes:
• 10 chicken pieces
• Garlic powder
• Salt and pepper
• Cumin powder
• 6 cloves garlic — chopped
• Bouillon cubes
• 3 cups rice
• 8 cups water
• 2 packets of Azafran seasoning packet
• One can petite peas, drained
• One small jar diced pimento
• One can beer
Season the chicken with spices. Fry in extra-virgin olive oil and garlic until the chicken is almost done (about 25 minutes). Add rice, water, seasoning packet and bouillon cubes. Let cook until the water is almost gone and you can see the rice. Add the can of beer.
Cover and let cook on low for about 45 minutes.
Add peas (drained) and pimento on top.

Enjoy!

The Path to Pregnancy

Published on by Lisa

It never ceases to amaze me how much has to happen for a womyn to become pregnant.

I’ve never been pregnant and decided, after much thought and deep prayer, that I want to be a mother.  My preference for beginning a family would be to have a biological child first and then adopt in a few years.  However, Adonis and I are completely open to all the different ways that progeny come about.
In 1999, I had a surgery that ended with a tumor the size of grapefruit being extracted from my right ovary and another cyst removed from my left.  Portions of both ovaries were removed, but I was told that children were still a possibility.  I was twenty and thoughts of children were frequent, but I wasn’t ready.  Adonis and I, at that point in our lives, were passing acquaintances at college drinking fiestas.
And here we are, going to doctors and wondering what in the world I need to do to contribute to the global population.
Another surgery, apparently, is what needs to happen.
The road to health is a never ending bike path.  Once you think you can close your eyes and enjoy the wind, even for a split second, a bend in the road approaches and that moment of relaxation is put off for another mile or two.  And then another bend.  Sometimes, despite, our healthy habits, frequent exercising, and water drinking, our bodies decide to do things all on their own.  Mine decided to make tumors again and complicate my desire to have life beyond my own.
Two surgeries before thirty.  That’s not exactly what I imagined for myself, but when I think of all the unexpected bends in the road, I accept this road as mine.  I’m hopeful that I’ll be able to get through this time with promise and health.
ps – I am NOT moving my blog to be classified under “infertility” blogosphere or whatever some folks have suggested.  While I certainly appreciate the great resources of those blogs, and I will continue to expand my writing in other areas of the internet, this is my home here – as a radical womyn of color feminist.  I’m just a feminist who wants babies.

Our Garbage Disposal

Published on by Lisa

has been acting up and I hate when it looks like someone vomited in the sink and I have no ability to drain it.

With that lovely image in your minds, Nick and I called our house insurance folks to have someone come and take a look at why it’s simply not turning on. And why, all of a sudden, is our dishwasher not draining?

So, Mr. Fixit marches in and peers down with a flashlight while I am explaining how stumped Nick and I are about why it’s like this.

We reaches underneath the sink and flips a button that says RESTART.

It gurgles free.

“That’ll be $75.”

The Holidays are A-Coming

Published on by Lisa

…and that means two things for me and Nick.

1) Massive Travel
2) Board Games

Nick and I were born competitive people so board games are a wonderful way to exercise healthy habits of winning and practicing coping mechanisms when we act like a disgraceful loser. One of my favorite things about spending time with Nick’s family is the passion of board games. Everyone gets into it and it’s every wo/man for her/himself. While my favorite is Tripoly, Cranium is definitely up there as well.

Here is a small glimpse into the hilarity of Cranium.

Background: Jay and Keith are one team. Jay is humming a tune that Keith must figure out. It’s not an All-Play, but we certainly take turns with our jabs and teasing. Listen closely to Jay and see if you can figure out what he’s humming before anyone else.

Let me make a prediction: you won’t.