I’m not pregnant. I got it on Saturday at the movies. And boy is it a doozy. I’ve lost enough blood to have almost fainted 2x this weekend – just for standing up. So, annual check-up is in May, and I’ll be asking about that one. So, not cool. Everything else is moving right along at a good clip. My little Joseph boy is 4 years old today. It is so hard to believe. Jay will be bringing home balloons tonight, since Joseph informed us this morning that it’s not his birfday unless we makes him some balloons. So there will be a celebration this evening with gifts, and cake (home-made thankyouverymuch), and frosting, and gifts. 4. He starts preschool this September. He starts kindergarten next September. OK, I need to stop, or else I’ll be a grandma at 29. A bit of quiz…

Yes, I’m still alive. So much has happenned in the last month that I actually had to go to my last entry and take notes, so I could propoerly update. We definitely are going to Palm Springs – May 14th – 16th. VERY excited about this. No kids. This is a big deal. Massages will be involved, and maybe facials. This is a very good thing. Dave and Shannon had their baby, a beautiful little boy named Dylan. And… I was there! Shannon wanted me to come, and with her family in and out, and Dave’s squeamish stomach, her epidural, etc., I ended up being the only one, other than medical professionals, that she let touch her. And because Dave wasn’t doing so hot with the blood & gore that goes with childbirth, it was me who helped clean her up, and moving her legs up for the doctor to do pelvic checks, etc. I saw more of Shannon than I EVER thought I would. But her family is neurotic, and Dave was trying to keep them all corralled, not to mention his parents were there together – who had a very acrimonious divorce – and it was just a huge circus. So I just ignored everybody and focused on Shannon, whom everyone seemed to have forgotten. I mean I know that everyone is focused on the baby – who is just gorgeous by the way – but, um, let’s focus on the person who’s got to push him out first, shall we? Anyway, the birth and recovery went slendidly, which was a concern, since she was on bed rest of the last 2 months, and had hypertension, and they almost needed to do an emergency c-section, since that child just did not want to be induced (the hypertension was reaching a critical level for Shannon’s health). Dave is just amazed. Jay and I quit Tae Kwon Do. There were several reasons for this. 1. Just can’t afford it anymore. 2. We didn’t have any respect for the Master. We loved the head instructor, but couldn’t stand the Master, and in the end, he, of course, has the most influence. and 3. The master had recently joined a church that believes Jesus recently came back as a Korean, and nobody believed him, and now we’re all going to hell unless we believe that this Korean in Korea was Jesus’ second coming. Ummmmmm, let’s just say that this fundamentally disagrees with what Jay and i believe, and we staying there would have been wrong for religious reasons. Jay and I definitely want to go back to it, at another school, once we’re financially on our feet, but now is not the time. Jay graduated and found a job as a architectural drafter in Redondo Beach. Which is a LONG way. So he has a long commute, and works from home 2 days a week. He quit the grocery store. I switched my hours at work, so that I can pick up the kids 3 days a week. He’s making less, but we knew that going in. I’m still not used to the new schedule (I have to get up before 5:45am now) and I guess it will be a few weeks before it kicks in. The time change happening in the same week didn’t help at all. I’m simply exhausted now in the afternoons. But it’s just a matter of time. Jay and I are now lik a normal family! Sleeping in the same bed 7 nights a week! Weekends off!! Getting home at a decent hour for baths and dinner and such!! It’s so odd. In a good way. I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop since it’s been so good for us. In other news, I’m starting my own business. Doing what I do now from a distance. It’s going to take about a year to actually see any progress, and I’ve decided not to link to my business from here. I just don’t want to mix the two. So, if any of you want the URL, please just email me, and I’ll be happy to give it to you. And think good thoughts, or pray, or whatever you do for this to happen for me. I’ve been thinking about it for a couple of years, it’s a huge gigantuan step & risk, and I’m scared to death. And with Jay’s support, I’m doing it anyway. Consider yourself updated.

So many things seem to be happening at once. I’ll try an do a run-down here. We saw The Passion of the Christ. I simply don’t have words. I honestly cannot put into words what this movie made me feel. I’m overwhelmed by them. I can tell you that I started crying about 10 minutes into it, and I don’t think I stopped for a full 5 minutes after that. Other than saying I think everyone should see it, I don’t know what to say. I think that people who believe in other religions should see it as well, so that they can have a glimpse into what Christians believe about Jesus. OK, big jump in topic… Dave and Shannon have invited us to Palm Springs. We don’t know when yet, since she’s going to pop any moment – with a baby – but they definitely want to go soon. Her mom has a time share. So all it would cost us actually, is food and gas. I think we could pull that off. That and a babysitter. Grandparents anyone? We haven’t been away for the weekend for a year, so this would be nice. Another jump – I’m an orange belt. I STILL haven’t received my belt but I definitely passed the test. Yay! Jay graduates next week, so we’re on the job hunt. We’re definitely looking in this area, but we’re also looking nationally, and Jay’s dad is looking for him in San Jose. What a can of worms THAT will be. His mother already asked him if it was me who didn’t want to move. Um, no. I told him I’d follow him anywhere. On the other hand, we have to think of practicalities. We’re barely making it now, he’ll be taking a cut in pay, in San Jose the rent will be twice as high, and the childcare will be twice as high. It has to be a pretty good damn offer for us to move anywhere, and that includes San Jose. But she chooses not to see that. Sigh. So that’s it in a nutshell. Next week will be very weird. Doctors appointments, graduation, Jay’s parents in town (during the week instead of on the weekend), and it’ll be Jay’s first week at his old store since the strike ended. All just strange. I hate change I hate change I hate change. Which is why God keeps giving me change. Toughening me up, I guess.

Jay and I really want to see The Passion of the Christ. I’ve heard a number of things about it. But mostly, I’ve heard that if you have any faith in Christ at all, this raises it a hundred fold. So, I want to see it. As for those who say it smacks of anti-semitism, well – if it’s true to the biblical account, then the Jewish people killed Jesus. That’s the historical account. I don’t understand why that would be anti-semite? And I haven’t understood that argument. I mean, the truth is, true Christians hold a very dear place in our hearts for the jews, because in the Old Testament, God calls the jews his chosen people. He fights for them, and wants them to survive. But history is history. And please don’t write to me saying that the Bible isn’t history. The truth is, Jesus’ existence, and the facts behind his death, have been proven by outside sources, regardless of how you feel about him being the Son of God or not. At the very least, He was a man here on earth, who died here on earth, and that is a fact. Wow – I guess the subject riles more in me than I thought. In additional religious news – didn’t mean to, it was just on the radio – THIS really bothers me. Because frankly folks, a theology degree is an actual acredited bachelor’s – one in which I was studying – that is offered at many secular schools. I realize he was planning to be a minister, but what he does with his degree is his business. When it’s an actual degree from a qualifying school, it’s absolutely ridiculous not give him the scholarship based upon his chosen profession. Yeah their taxpayer funds. But who says I want my funds going toward someone who receives a ceramics scholarship? I hate it when \”they\” speak for me as a taxpayer. Random yay for me – I tested yesterday, and am now an orange belt – in addition to breaking another board.

Jay did decent yesterday. He received a silver medal in poomse (forms) and a bronze medal in sparring. He was very mad at himself for losing the gold, since he kyopped in the wrong place (yelled), and he’s the one who screwed up. He lost it by 4 tenths of a point. The sparring was a whole other matter. He was put up against someone about 6 inches taller and about 50 pounds heavier. It’s supposed to be physically an even match so that it’s skill that gets you that medal. So not so in this case. He got his assed whipped. But he didn’t mind that so much as the other, as he knows he did his best, and someone else was better. In the poomse, though, he screwed up himself, so he was angry about that. He has two really heavy medals to add to our collection of TKD stuff we have no place for. We’ve got our previous belts, our certificates for each advance (in korean). The boards we’ve broken. And now these medals. I think I’m going to have to hand it all ijn our hallway where we have pictures. there’s just no where else to put it. It’s the perfect thing to hang in an office, if we had one, but we don’t. I was very proud of him yesterday. In spite of lots and lots of rude people, lots of people in general, The lack of interest in us by our own Master (which I’m going to be bringing up tomorrow after class, and the long length of time between his competitions, he was a very shining example of what a competitor should be. He was polite, gracious, used good sportsmanship, was friendly to his competitors, and humbly congratulated those that bested him. Believe me when I say in that crowd, this is a big deal – even if it’s how he is all the time. To complete the black belt (so not there yet), one must complete 2 public tournaments. Jay has one under his belt now. I’m probably going to enter into the next one. I have no idea how I’ll do. It’s a very scary prospect. Lots of people watching. VERY full house, at this last one. I test for my orange belt on tomorrow. Ack!