tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-216910122011-12-04T07:36:07.223-05:00... because I like the bitter aftertasteart-sweetnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1701100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1167548892456516152006-12-31T01:30:00.000-05:002006-12-31T02:08:12.500-05:00

I can now be found at: http://artsweet.wordpress.com.Please update your links and rss feeds... Smooches,Art

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1167343865638229652006-12-28T16:31:00.000-05:002006-12-28T17:11:05.750-05:00

Some of the better search strings through which people have found this blog. And my snarky responses. The "Go Back to School" Awardsa sad song about a kids abused - I don't know why you were looking for this, but you might have more luck if you corrected your grammar.how long does a female butterfly stay pregnant? - I think butterflies lay eggs. See mammals vs. insects for more help.Name of the

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1167341206508803762006-12-28T16:05:00.000-05:002006-12-28T16:26:46.563-05:00

Pili writes: "I am in an internet cafe here in FARAWAY PLACE and the young lady that works here comes over to my screen while I"m looking at the pictures and says, 'Is that your child?' Wha! Imagine my delight to say - yes!!! What an amazing thing."When I read this email a huge smile spread over my face. Imagining a stranger 8400 miles away from us knowing somehow - from the expression on her

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1167026732522709892006-12-25T00:34:00.000-05:002006-12-25T01:07:55.146-05:00

Before I start blathering on: Merry Christmas to all my friends who celebrate Christmas and happy mandatory day off to the rest of us! I am at my parents' apt. and every time I get on the computer and start looking at blogs or even thinking about blogging one of them pops up behind me. It's crazy.I feel like I'm trying to look at pictures of nekkid ladies when really all I want to do is check in

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1166635379303151042006-12-20T11:36:00.000-05:002006-12-20T12:39:04.516-05:00

I'm.... (yawn)...back. And it's done. I fudged the deadline a bit and so am not feeling very good about myself at the moment. Especially since that meant telling my advisor I had actually mailed it when in fact I was just planning to go to the post office in a couple of hours not being totally upfront with my advisor, and I feel terrible about that. And then my computer literally ate a paragraph

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1166079515065866822006-12-14T01:35:00.000-05:002006-12-14T01:58:35.146-05:00

1) I must wish a huge and happy birthday to the sweetest, most fabulously wonderful, Piliest of Pilis in the whole wide world. I can't wait until we've lived more of our lives together than without each other. Even if that takes a while, because well - you're old(er than me). SMOOCH.2) If you're not reading the posts over at lesbian family get over there now. I am humbled to be joining a team

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1165585763918373682006-12-08T08:46:00.000-05:002006-12-08T08:49:23.960-05:00

... after a nasty email to FedEx (thanks Bernard, for the research!) and a very contrite phone call from Memphis, the documents have finally been delivered to the correct Antigua! That's all for now.

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1165441283964596062006-12-06T16:25:00.000-05:002006-12-06T16:42:57.846-05:00

The endo appt. was good. Really good. Not perfect - why can't doctors use "high" and "low" instead of "bad" and "good" when they're talking about your blood sugars? But for starters, my A1C was 7.5. That's the lowest it's been in... a long time. And the doctor sat and listened and looked at me, not my chart. For almost an hour. We talked about where to find carb counts for ethnic foods; about CGM

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1165428568959906202006-12-06T13:07:00.000-05:002006-12-06T13:09:29.036-05:00

Just when I thought everything was going smoothly in the paperwork department.Our corrected POA & other documents appear to be taking a nice Caribbean vacation in Antigua, West Indies, courtesy of FedEx.They are supposed to be redirected to Guatemala and be there by Monday. Off to the endo, g-d help me.

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1165380433235456552006-12-05T22:58:00.000-05:002006-12-05T23:49:18.846-05:00

Yes, I'm still on reduced blog privileges. Yes, part of the anxiety is from the deadline breathing hot stinky air down my neckBut mostly my anxiety level has shot up to new heights because I came home today to a message reminding me that I have an appointment tomorrow with a new endocrinologist. An appointment I had conveniently managed to forget about. You may recall that I dumped McClinic .

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1165161018233564852006-12-03T10:26:00.000-05:002006-12-03T10:50:18.320-05:00

First of all, I am so honored to learn that I have been nominated for not one, but two, diabetes OC awards. Some fabulous person (I swear it wasn't me!) nominated me for Best Adult with Type I and Best Female Blogger. I am up against some pretty stiff competition and I'm honestly not sure that I will vote for myself over these folks. But hey, I'm not going to stop you from voting for me...I

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1164978411210412032006-12-01T08:03:00.000-05:002006-12-01T08:06:51.266-05:00

I haven't participated in the Perfect Post awards before, but I saw a button on someone's blog for them, on the same day that I read this post. I immediately emailed Lucinda and asked if I could nominate a post. (Links to the other Perfect Posts are up at her site and at Momma K's.) Here's my nomination:With simple, direct words, and even more eloquent photographs, Sandra takes us through one of

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1164862332848475522006-11-29T23:39:00.000-05:002006-11-30T13:37:39.426-05:00

This one's for Andrea, who asked: Did our Power of Attorney (lets the attorney in Guatemala act on our behalf in Guatebaby's adoption) come back from being authenticated at the Consulate today? Since I couldn't find your email address, and since it is a classic story in the poor-me genre, and I'm always a sucker for sympathy, I'll give you your answer here, Andrea. Why, yes, yes the POA did

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1164814056939914662006-11-29T10:01:00.000-05:002006-11-29T10:27:37.150-05:00

I love my Pili dearly, but it will surprise no one who knows us to hear that she's not an attentive-to-small-details person. [Well, except when it comes to congealed toothpaste on the toothpaste tube and shoes left under the dining room table. Then she's a nutcase.]She just stopped into my office with her newly renotarized doctor's note, which had to be done over because the notary's signature

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1164760674132618862006-11-28T19:29:00.000-05:002006-11-28T19:42:12.766-05:00

The only thing that is keeping me from chewing my arm off with frustration about the fact that the Guatemalan consulate has STILL not returned our authenticated power of attorney document to us despite the fact that it was received there a week ago is the knowledge that PGN (and, I would imagine, family court as well) is on their holiday slowdown, and we wouldn't be moving even if all our

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1164567815430011472006-11-26T14:03:00.000-05:002006-11-26T14:06:23.333-05:00

For me thanksgiving is all about the Food and the Family (F is for... ) We go to my cousin's house, have a delicious meal (eat way too much - I wish I could do a 48 hour square bolus for thanksgiving) and enjoy seeing relatives I don't get to see often enough. When I was younger, I found the whole family thing overwhelming and stifling, but I think I've mellowed and my family has mellowed as well

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1163968958611494752006-11-19T15:21:00.000-05:002006-11-19T15:42:38.736-05:00

For all of you parents out there who felt thwarted by the "please don't tell my life is going to change" command in the previous post...We have been thinking about the possibility that a Real Baby may enter our lives sometime in the not too distant future. This means that some Real Baby Stuff will need to enter our lives. There are some things I strongly suspect we can live without, and you

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com35tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1163781673860997532006-11-17T11:28:00.000-05:002006-11-17T19:51:06.626-05:00

to your regular photo friday edition. But not without first saying Thank You Thank You Thank You for all your wonderful Guatebaby comments. We are definitely saving those for the baby book. "Look sweetie chubbycheeks, lots of people in the internet love you. And we do too. night-night"On that note. E is for...Early Morning. Actually, I was just going to bed.Those of you who are already

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1163649267384245432006-11-15T22:48:00.000-05:002006-11-16T01:02:53.806-05:00

Warning, those prone to tears may want tissues close at hand.At 4pm yesterday, my cell phone rang. I didn't recognize the number, so I ignored it. Then our home phone rang. This time the caller ID showed the name of GAL (Guatemala Agency Lady, for those just tuning in).My heart crawled to a stop. In my last email exchange with her, she had told us to hurry up with the documents we had to redo,

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com48tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1163562776780637592006-11-14T22:45:00.000-05:002006-11-14T22:52:56.846-05:00

(knock wood, ptut, ptut, ptut, etc.)He's a big boy.20.5" long.NINE POUNDS.Absolutely adorable.

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com80tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1163261928855182072006-11-11T11:15:00.000-05:002006-11-11T11:18:48.896-05:00

... Diabetes.

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1163136582111996012006-11-10T00:20:00.000-05:002006-11-10T00:31:54.926-05:00

I have never been a competitive race walker. Unless you count being lapped by 90 year old ladies as competitive. And I don't mean the kind of 90 year old ladies who are cover models for Prevention magazine. I mean the ones who can't make it all the way around the mall without stopping for coffee. Twice. I am: hopelessly confused by right and left, neurotic about being followed while driving, and

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1163088220401055832006-11-09T10:57:00.000-05:002006-11-09T11:03:40.450-05:00

As I mentioned a few posts ago, November is National Diabetes Awareness Month. Today is "D-blogger day". Our goal on this day is to spread awareness through our blogs about what life with diabetes is like. Instead of writing something new, I'd like to share an essay I wrote in high school. I've learned a lot and experienced a lot since then, and later this week, I'll reflect on that.Let me give

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1162945283602741622006-11-07T19:08:00.000-05:002006-11-07T19:21:23.663-05:00

Her second child was born less than two months ago. And you idiots think that the only families worth protecting look like hers? If you haven't already done so, vote today. And please, vote to protect my family. If you have a respectful disagreement, I'm willing to hear it. Cowardly anonymous comments will be deleted posthaste.

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1162872030321649662006-11-06T23:00:00.000-05:002006-11-07T01:44:52.610-05:00

I have been tagged by Scott and Shannon to present five unusual facts about myself.Although I am very tired from a whirlwind bloggy get-together in which I. Squeezed. The Chuzzle. I will comply, with a slight twist. I present to you: five truths and a lie. You decide - which is the lie? I have a very hard time telling left and right apart and failed a driving test because of this. I learned to

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1162570160367551162006-11-03T10:55:00.000-05:002006-11-03T11:09:21.756-05:00

C is for CHOCOLATE. Also for carton, almost empty. And carbs. The horrible thing about eating ice cream is that when the carton gets most of the way empty, it's more embarrassing to put it back in the freezer and have Pili say, with raised eyebrow, where did all the ice cream go? when she looks in the half almost empty container then it is to just finish it off and have the container go in the

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1162419978028965862006-11-01T17:21:00.000-05:002006-11-01T19:08:11.263-05:00

New Reading Material for the RE's waiting room?"Most downloaded woman" Cindy Marg@lis has posed for Playb@y at age 40 in order to raise awareness of infertility and the beauty of the older woman. (And, I dare say, to raise some other things as well.)More here.I predict that REs all over the country will be snatching up this issue to stock their "specimen collection rooms."p.s. I gather that CM

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1162058517643346792006-10-28T13:47:00.000-04:002006-10-29T13:19:29.966-05:00

Quite honestly, the winter holiday of my choice would be no holiday at all.Yes, I'm one big fat grinch.Growing up culturally and very vaguely religiously Jewish, I put a lot of energy into Not Celebrating Christmas. And I still do. It pisses me off that I have to hear Christmas carols while I'm buying groceries, starting sometime in NOVEMBER (!) It pisses me off that people ask me automatically

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1161985984847803792006-10-27T17:27:00.000-04:002006-10-27T17:54:38.043-04:00

Just got an email from Guatemala Agency Lady (GAL). She has (finally) reviewed our dossier and found several documents that we have to redo, including: the medical letter, the employment letter, the police clearance letter, one of the witness statements, and the name affidavit. Pili and I react so differently to this kind of news. She gets pissed and frustrated - why didn't GAL catch these

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1161922130904221892006-10-27T00:08:00.000-04:002006-10-27T00:08:50.906-04:00

Baby Clothes.I was in Targhay, searching for the elusive out-of-season plant stand and a new light for the guest room baby room to be. And somehow I found myself wandering next to a clearance rack of incredibly tiny clothes. And before I knew it, this had made its way into my shopping cart.

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1161875015960581512006-10-26T10:56:00.000-04:002006-10-26T11:03:36.020-04:00

This hurts so bad. Not that it happened. I'm thrilled that the good justices of New Jersey, or at least four of them, do not have their heads up their arses. But how could it happen in New Jersey before it happened in New York? This is a matter of great and grevious shame to me. All I can say, is that Eliot better keep his promises.

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1161490095385645902006-10-22T00:01:00.000-04:002006-10-22T00:11:06.836-04:00

A is for ANIMALS. And, also, for AWWWWW ISN'T THAT ADORABLE.Thank you for all your support and comments yesterday. I think it's good for me, as a total non-smoker, to be reminded by others what a tough habit this is to kick. And you all are my witnesses, that Pili says she is back on the wagon as of tomorrow. Honestly, if ever a situation called for falling back on old comforts, this one did.

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1161388709285507902006-10-20T19:45:00.000-04:002006-10-20T19:58:29.336-04:00

The Photo Friday topic this week is "A is for..." I was all prepared, earlier in the week, to come up with something clever. I have been a Photo Friday loser the past couple of weeks, and I wanted to make a big splash to make it up to Cali, because I'm that kind of over-compensating neurotic twit. But honestly, all I can come up with right now is A is for AWFUL. A is for ANXIETY. A is for

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1161197363018685992006-10-18T14:23:00.000-04:002006-10-18T14:49:23.303-04:00

Thank you for all your kind comments on the previous post. My tongue is back to normal, the stitch, which made me feel like I had a fly stuck on my tongue, has dissolved as promised, and I am once again blowing bubbles. I don't have much to say at the moment. I feel like I'm in a holding pattern on a lot of fronts. We're waiting for the I-171H, which should hopefully come within the next week or

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1160796257255670902006-10-13T23:13:00.000-04:002006-10-13T23:25:14.780-04:00

Memo to self: Do not chew gum when you have a stitch in your tongue. At least not on the right side of your mouth where the stitch is. Memo to self: Do not chew gum when you have had two deep cavities filled earlier this week. At least not on the left side of your mouth where the cavities were. Why do I have a stitch in my tongue? Because I have a sore that keeps coming back in the same place in

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1160459192052821902006-10-10T01:43:00.000-04:002006-10-10T17:10:29.133-04:00

If you don't know my family, it will give you some insight into my childhood. And into Guatebaby's probable gender. My father has decided that until Guatebaby moves from being an indefinite to a definite article, his codename for Guatebaby will be Che.Rock on, Dad.ETA: Does this mean we should start our registry with this?

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1160415671385307192006-10-09T11:33:00.000-04:002006-10-09T13:49:57.220-04:00

It weighs eight and a half ounces. It's got lots of flashy gold seals.It has caused us more irritation, sleepless nights, and bitten down fingernails (not that I really need an excuse) than I care to remember.And now I have to let it go and trust it to the impersonal hands of the united states postal service. Goodbye, Mr. Dossier.Hello, Guatebaby? The cats are not sure what they think about this

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com38tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1160018061413050392006-10-04T22:59:00.000-04:002006-10-04T23:30:39.463-04:00

I was inspired out of my blogblahs by Dana's recent post about forgetting to take her insulin with her. I've forgotten everything at one point or another in my 21 years of diabetic life - strips, finger-sticker (syringe, paperclip, thumbtack and earring have all served as substitutes), insulin, syringes... you name it. I've forgotten to bolus more times than I care to remember, although the pump

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1159659997903057102006-09-30T19:03:00.000-04:002006-09-30T19:46:37.943-04:00

I've been scurrying around the blogosphere, commenting up a storm and trying to catch up with all your various goings-ons.The retreat was wonderful. It was with other people in my field, but not with my co-workers. There were fantastic presenters, very tasty food, and a beautiful, peaceful setting. And now I'm home, with my lovely blogosphere and my lovely purring cats and my lovely Pili

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1159235880935898762006-09-25T21:52:00.000-04:002006-09-26T02:40:03.683-04:00

I am going to a work-related retreat in the mountains for four days. Cell-phones don't work, and there is no internet access. If you hear loud shrieking coming from the north woods, it's me, detoxing. p.s. If anything dramatic happens, like Vaseline Teeth actually returning our phone calls, I have given Pili guest-posting privileges. Unfortunately, I doubt she will have cause to use them.

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1158976993311358992006-09-22T21:49:00.000-04:002006-09-22T22:03:13.983-04:00

...a gentle, soothing post wishing all my friends in the computer a sweet, happy, and peaceful new year. Unfortunately, our pre-holiday meditations were disrupted by the arrival of the notarized copy of the homestudy in the mail today. (Has anyone else noticed that Vaseline Teeth ALWAYS mails things so that they arrive on Friday?) And she always mails them, despite the fact that I've told her

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1158817011471003812006-09-21T01:04:00.000-04:002006-09-21T01:39:30.036-04:00

When I talk to people about the adoption, I find myself struggling for the right words. After the adoption, we will bring Guatebaby... home? Home for us. And eventually home for him/her. But for Guatebaby, Guatemala is home. S/he will be used to the smells, the air, the temperature. A drafty old house in the ice box northeastern united states will not yet be home. How early do you know what

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1158592684564646022006-09-18T11:03:00.000-04:002006-09-18T11:18:31.333-04:00

Pili & I were married, in the small seaside town where her family has spent many salt-drenched weekends. Our friends and family wove a chuppah for us out of beautiful colored ribbons. We said our vows in front of a rabbi and an episcopal priest. We danced to a kick-ass klezmer band as a full moon rose over the ocean.It was the best day of my life.My dad says that every time he sees a full moon

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com34tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1158550320410445962006-09-17T23:31:00.000-04:002006-09-17T23:58:57.686-04:00

We are so close to being done with our dossier, I can taste it.What does an almost finished dossier taste like? A mouthful of paper, mostly. Mixed with a dash of hope, a smidgen of fear, a few lingering sour grapes...But being almost finished with our dossier means that we are this close to the dreaded decision point of circle: boy, girl, either. We thought we knew what we were doing, and then

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1158201976946126922006-09-13T22:20:00.000-04:002006-09-13T22:49:25.486-04:00

In response to my interview question, my Anonymous High School Boy Friend (AHSBF), also known as the significant other of the guy (SH) whose diabetes I had the joyous opportunity to confirm, updated us on his sweetie's diabetes status. He writes:SH is doing great. Ten days ago after our ER visit (facilited by stepmom-who-works-there; awesome), he went to his new dr here in NY (who he loves), got

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1158093779896745152006-09-12T16:24:00.000-04:002006-09-12T16:42:59.930-04:00

Many things are enraging me today:Adoption: Crawling out of my skin with frustration. Guatemala Agency Lady (Ms. GAL) has still not given us feedback on the homestudy, which makes me think she hates it. She told me to call her today and has not returned my calls. Meanwhile, Vaseline Teeth is tugging on my sleeve wondering why Ms. Gal has not gotten back to us yet. The police clearance has to be

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1157990143502750322006-09-11T11:37:00.000-04:002006-09-11T21:46:14.293-04:00

Today I am sitting in my pajamas in my parents house in NYC, where five years ago I yearned to be.Five years ago I turned on the radio in my apartment in Flat City to hear the expressway travel times so that I could decide what route to take to work. Instead I heard the oddly detached voice of the NPR announcer say, "and eyewitness reports confirm that another plane has just hit the world trade

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1157732258257477152006-09-08T12:14:00.000-04:002006-09-08T12:17:38.290-04:00

Please go give Sophia some love. She could use a little help from her friends. Can I just say, IVF is great when it works. But when it doesn't? IT BITES.

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1157638136275965982006-09-07T09:54:00.000-04:002006-09-07T16:11:02.376-04:00

I am sitting at home waiting for the furnace repairman to come and do our annual fall tune up (sad, sad, sad) and, for the third year in a row, tell us that our furnace is Very Old and Will Not Last the Winter.ETA: And bah humbug furnace as well. I had to run out the door to go to therapy, so I only got to go through the first half of the annual exam with my friend, Mr. I Can't Believe This Thing

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1157596934635327712006-09-06T22:08:00.000-04:002006-09-07T00:24:01.083-04:00

This big guy came in our CSA basket this week. He was promptly chopped up with green onions (CSA), cilantro (CSA), jalapeno (CSA), salt, cumin, and lime juice & made into a delicious salsa.Here's Big Dude with Pili's laptop for a sense of scale.I didn't post the tomato tart recipe because, although it looked purty, I think I've tasted better. But since you insist... I followed this recipe, more

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1157384066834990362006-09-04T11:33:00.000-04:002006-09-04T11:34:26.886-04:00

A little fun with photoshop.

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1157349358647529452006-09-04T00:32:00.000-04:002006-09-04T02:01:28.923-04:00

But first, I'm sure you have all been wondering what happened to the world's happiest tomato. Well, first I made it G-rated.Then I made it into heirloom tomato tart with parmesan crust.So I have to write about the State Fair. The State Fair is one of the best things about living in a place where people think that Olive Garden is an ethnic restaurant. This year, I decided to take photographs of

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1157203036605947102006-09-02T09:08:00.000-04:002006-09-02T09:17:16.746-04:00

Just when I was getting ready to go downtown and stage a sit-in at the door of the World's Slowest Social Worker, aka Mrs. Vaseline Teeth, for not returning our phone calls... what should arrive in the mail yesterday? Our homestudy draft. And a note saying that, yes, she does have the notarized copy of our police clearance letter. And a bill for the rest of her fee. The draft looks good,

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1157079397493079872006-08-31T22:55:00.000-04:002006-08-31T22:57:15.630-04:00

I hate it when bad crap happens to good people. Please go give Bri some love.

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1156998321377652152006-08-30T23:55:00.000-04:002006-08-31T00:25:21.456-04:00

First of all, what comes to mind when you see this tomato? Please do share your thoughts. I will use them as the basis for your diagnosis. So what does this have to do with Photo Friday?The topic for Photo Friday this week is "politics." Post a photo which in some way showcases your politics. Funky tomatoes? Politics? Yes. This tomato comes from our CSA. CSA stands for Community Supported

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1156796607622709482006-08-28T15:31:00.000-04:002006-08-28T20:13:50.930-04:00

I really didn't intend that last post to be the blog equivalent of "does this dress make my butt look fat?" (mandatory answer: no, of course not) but I am delighted to hear from so many of you and to hear about what motivates you to read this. I've never been able to keep a diary, it bores me to tears. Which is perilessly close to saying "I bore me to tears." But this, this blogging thing -

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1156664546941724932006-08-27T02:58:00.000-04:002006-08-28T08:53:30.120-04:00

Andrea recently wrote very eloquently (as she always does) about the awkward balancing act involved in having a blog with multiple audiences. Whenever I write, I'm aware that it's going to be read (hopefully) by people with a diverse group of interests. There's my diabetes friends - my TTC/infertility friends - my adopting friends - my queer family friends - a handful of in-real-life friends -

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1156269294441113682006-08-22T13:45:00.000-04:002006-08-22T13:54:54.486-04:00

Those who know me well, know that I can spend a long time struggling to find the right word.I just changed my reservoir, and realized that while I would know that distinctive insulin smell ANYWHERE, I can not think of words to describe it. So - no cheating - don't read other people's comments first - how would you describe that unique fragrance? You don't have to be a PWD to answer this - family

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com37tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1156183985335702072006-08-21T13:30:00.000-04:002006-08-21T15:53:45.670-04:00

So, I have gotten a title change at the Workplace Most Dysfunctional(WMD - Hey, President Bush, I've found your WMDs!). Instead of being the Coordinator of Blah Blah, I am now the Manager of Blah Blah and Blech Blech. This is a good thing for my resume and for my chances of securing a job at a place which does not cause me to gnash my teeth and break out in spontaneous bursts of weeping when I

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1155916471191090362006-08-18T11:31:00.000-04:002006-08-18T11:57:26.913-04:00

For a couple of days now I've been trying to figure out what it was that bugged me about this front page article in the New York Times. The headline is "Overcoming Adoption's Racial Barriers" and it focuses on white families adopting African-American children.As I was scrubbing the coffee stains and cat hair off the stairs this morning, in preparation for house guest 2.0 (my much loved cousin and

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1155843531937525942006-08-17T15:38:00.000-04:002006-08-17T15:50:20.183-04:00

Just five coincident facts that will have my pumpwearing pals wincing in sympathy:1. Doorknob2. 23" Tubing3. Carrying hot coffee4. Cute, ass-enhancing, relatively new (and now elegantly coffee-stained) jeans5. Formerly off-white carpetP.S. Is anyone else disturbed by word verification combinations that include the letter "Q" not followed by "U"? Or am I just unspeakably uptight?

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1155365710541937892006-08-12T02:03:00.000-04:002006-08-12T02:55:10.580-04:00

Go away pervy people, it's my spice rack we're talking about here. This one's dedicated to Cali. If you're not already familiar with Cali, she's the grande dame of Photo Friday and a spreader of much internet love. She could use a little love herself these days, so please go and give it to her. Thanks. Our house is full of fun old house features, along with some old house quirks I won't go into

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1155309370290242692006-08-11T10:56:00.000-04:002006-08-11T11:16:10.370-04:00

This morning, Pili and I went to have our fingerprints taken at our friendly local office of the Department of Homeland Insecurity, Office of Citizenship and Immigration Diservice. As we sat in the drab waiting room, Pili chatted with the security guard. This is one of the basic differences between us. Native New Yorkers are rarely chatters, I've found. Friendly, helpful, yes. That whole rude

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1155139208668428022006-08-09T11:39:00.000-04:002006-08-09T12:00:08.716-04:00

I feel like all I ever do anymore is dash into blogger and breathlessly promise updates that never happen. This summer has been spinning by so fast I'm dizzy. I'm blogging from work b/c Pili's mom is in town, and I can't really disappear into the office at home for long stretches of time. For better or worse, she has not (knock wood) imploded from cat dander yet. That's a cheap shot and I

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1154894407004628002006-08-06T15:50:00.000-04:002006-08-06T16:00:07.033-04:00

Vaseline Teeth is on vacation for the next week or so. She did not bother to return calls or emails asking when she might have a draft of the homestudy before she left. I cannot wait to have the homestudy approved by our agency and get this woman OUT of my life. If you don't have anything better to do (and obviously I don't) go cheer on Julia. She's in labor! And she has wireless internet in

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1154726299812798362006-08-04T16:58:00.000-04:002006-08-04T17:18:19.846-04:00

Not that you'd know it from my blog posts of late. I have been slacking off a little with Smokey - going back to my old "eh, I think that's about half a cup" ways as opposed to my newly converted: "did you measure that? Are you trying to kill me? Why didn't you measure that?" zeal. But I have one diabetes related victory to report. I am breaking with McClinic. This means leaving behind the

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1154641645099943042006-08-03T17:44:00.000-04:002006-08-03T17:47:25.126-04:00

... Orphan Petition Fingerprint Referral NoticeHooray! Now all we need is the homestudy from Vaseline Teeth. Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1154448219227848382006-08-01T11:30:00.000-04:002006-08-01T12:10:09.933-04:00

I apologize for leaving that worrisome headline up there for so long. Nothing is wrong with the adoption, in fact things are rolling along fairly smoothly (so far). Pili and I had a spat about adoption related things and in a fit of immaturity I decided that the best way to communicate with her was to blog about it. When I came to my senses I realized talking to her was probably a better

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1154013998802778682006-07-27T11:06:00.000-04:002006-07-27T13:49:09.890-04:00

Yes, there was another post here.It was whiny and petty and passive-agressive and it's gone now.

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1153861606944800752006-07-25T16:49:00.000-04:002006-07-25T17:06:47.006-04:00

Solve my problems for me please, dear readers. 1. A former intern has asked me to be a professional reference for her. Quite frankly, she was a complete flake. Very nice, but very flakey. Promised things and didn't deliver them, didn't listen to feedback, couldn't write her way out of a paper bag... you get the picture. I did a lot of the work on the project that was supposedly her

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1153800027173794902006-07-24T23:53:00.000-04:002006-07-25T00:00:27.220-04:00

The topic was opposites. Young/old, big/small, good/evil, you name it.I didn't get a chance to shoot anything new, but I had fun looking back through my old photos. I came up with two contrasting hand pictures... And some nice big/small, young/old from our trip to India:

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1153584323410908562006-07-22T11:21:00.000-04:002006-07-22T12:10:57.676-04:00

I wore Pili's ear out last night, bitching about a letter to the editor in the NY Times. Finally, I said: "Perhaps I should blog about this." And she, eager to get back to the Escapes section, said, "Yes, perhaps you should." ASIDE: There is nothing that gets my dander up more than reading letters to the editor. At least the ones in the NY Times are well written, which is way more than I can say

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1153453856215170142006-07-20T23:44:00.000-04:002006-07-20T23:52:55.136-04:00

Howling cats want me to feed them.A salad sits untouched on the counter.Personal emails go unanswered.Put aside for this task.Y aren't I doing these things?Because of someoneReadingIn the computer.-Dear, I wish youA very happy, healthy, baby-bearingYear of thirty-one.

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1153428899532126002006-07-20T16:43:00.000-04:002006-07-20T16:54:59.556-04:00

Bri, this is not your birthday post. It's coming later, I promise. But if you're reading this, go wish Bri a happy birthday anyway.I'm placing this ad for my friend "Gonalfa." She's been living in our fridge for a while and is need of a new home ASAP.Untouched but Hot-to-Trot Gonal-F Pen seeks willing infertile (US only please) cycling SOON (expires 8/06).Please email me and tell me your story

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1153346959851962542006-07-19T17:57:00.000-04:002006-07-19T18:19:37.336-04:00

Dear President Not Good Enough to Wipe my Ass Bush:Let me see if I've got this straight: "Marriage is the most fundamental institution of civilization, and it should not be redefined by activist judges."But it's okay for one activist president to overturn the will of the American people, as defined by their elected representatives - the will of the American people that their tax dollars should be

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1153324581050173012006-07-19T11:27:00.000-04:002006-07-19T11:56:21.076-04:00

I will be honest, since this is my blog. But if you're pregnant, you might not want to keep reading. I would understand that. Lots of folks in my little corner of the internet have gotten pregnant lately. They are filled with joy. They are looking forward without hesitation to the Baby that will Be. And you know what? Their Baby Will Be. They will have doubling betas, beautiful fuzzy

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1153187709653984102006-07-17T21:47:00.000-04:002006-07-17T21:56:27.413-04:00

Ms./Mr. Groundhog (I wasn't getting close enough to those claws to find out whether he was a she or she was a he. Plus s/he smelled terrible.) has been released into the woods, off the aptly named "Woodchuck Hill Road." My neighbors may hate me, but my garden thanks me. One down, two to go.

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1153161364840600962006-07-17T14:26:00.000-04:002006-07-17T14:36:04.910-04:00

Very clean house, because Mrs. Vaseline Teeth came over today and did the home visit! She seemed very pleased with the house, with my peppermint ice tea and zucchini bread, and with the cats, and was her general agreeable non-questioning self. Thanks to the wonders of laptops and wireless internet, I blog all over the house. I blog in bed. With (from L to R) the laptop, the fan (because it's

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1152941681755956592006-07-15T01:06:00.000-04:002006-07-15T01:40:01.130-04:00

Someone (who hasn't updated herself since she dropped a big bombshell a couple of days ago) nagged me about updating. Ever the dutiful blogger, I shall. The meeting with Mrs. VT was fine. She quizzed me about my family, didn't appear to have read my autobiography with much care (No, Mrs. VT, I don't have any siblings. I did mention that a few times in my autobiography, I believe), asked me what

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1152888114155467282006-07-14T10:33:00.000-04:002006-07-14T10:41:54.250-04:00

10:29 am: Vaseline Teeth appt in an hour. STOP. Very nervous. STOP. Voice sounds like a cheap hooker. STOP.10:30 am: Rejected for job I didn't really want. STOP. Should not have bothered applying for assistant level position. STOP. Do not want "assistant" on my resume at age 31, unless it comes with "director." STOP. Still kinda pissed they didn't even interview me. 10:32 am: KitchenAid wonderful

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1152730433283006442006-07-12T14:51:00.000-04:002006-07-12T14:53:53.306-04:00

My A1C (after one month of pumping) was 7.7! Given that that represents the past three months, and my A1C in June, pre-pump was 8.3, and before that was 9.1, I am pretty damn pleased with myself.

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1152633077714359972006-07-11T11:32:00.000-04:002006-07-11T11:51:17.853-04:00

1) I'm SICK. I have an ear infection (since when do grownups get ear infections?) and am on antibiotics and about five thousand decongestants trying to get the damn gunk to drain out of my ear. Of course when it does, it drains down my throat and makes me cough, which makes my ear feel like I've just gotten off a poorly pressurized plane. Gah. Gack. And sudafed makes me feel like my blood sugar

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1152374039958466312006-07-08T11:53:00.000-04:002006-07-08T11:53:59.963-04:00

My sincere apologies, Mrs. GroundhogMay I call you Mrs. Groundhog? I assume you are female, as I've seen you frolicking with two equally fat little ones, and wikipedia assures me that the male of the species abandons you after the birth of the little ones. (Pig) Perhaps a simple Ms. Groundhog would suffice? Or does New York State extend marital rights to rodents - as long as they're heterosexual

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1152299600985731462006-07-07T13:46:00.000-04:002006-07-07T22:27:55.243-04:00

A little the worse for wear, but back nonetheless. A warning to the squeamish and to my phobic friends, bodily fluids mentioned below. We had a lovely time out in suprisingly sunny northern CA. I think Bri and I may have breathed the same air molecules as we were stunningly near each other without knowing it. My cousin, wife, and adorable twin niecies live around the corner from the cafe in

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1151712115038889402006-06-30T19:57:00.000-04:002006-06-30T20:01:55.063-04:00

Off to spend the long weekend visiting the outlaws.I have lots of long thoughtful posts brewing in the pipeline, but I am semi-forbidden to blog until I finish my autobiography. In the meantime I will leave you with this bit of snark. Don't get me wrong. I heart my pregnant friends. And I understand that sometimes pregnant ladies have achey bellies, and this leads to public belly rubbing.But

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1151594286685168972006-06-29T11:01:00.000-04:002006-06-29T11:18:06.733-04:00

In a weak, I have nothing to say moment, I sucumbed to Shelli's charms and put myself up for the interview game. A reminder for those who haven't seen this before - if you'd like to be interviewed leave a comment and say so. I'll post questions for the first five to do so, which they will answer on their blogs with the same invitation to be interviewed.1) What is the hardest thing about living

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1151079781290033552006-06-23T12:20:00.000-04:002006-06-27T06:04:12.120-04:00

I love this fountain in flat cosmopolitan city. There are the obvious rainbows in the refraction of the sun in the spray of water.As well as the more subtle rainbow of all the people - young old black brown peach male female tall short thin fat clothed or almost naked - enjoying this work of art together. Indeed, being part of the work of art. And then there's also the rainbow lights in the

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1150998908726275812006-06-22T13:37:00.000-04:002006-06-22T13:55:08.766-04:00

I am happy for...Cecily and Insane Animals, who have made the move - both in somewhat dramatic fashion - into the "Got Kids" category.for hd, dizzles and Queer in the Head who are all hot on their heelsand for Kerri who is NOT pregnant, as far as I know, but got a kickass new job and a new home town. Smooches one and all. Back to work for me. p.s. A note to the big guy/gal upstairs: Please stop

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1150992364690193682006-06-22T10:50:00.000-04:002006-06-22T12:06:04.780-04:00

Thanks so much for all your love the last couple of days. I had a good, sky clearing howl last night, brought on by the crime of Pili egregiously failing to listen to me twice. I'm still sad - I loved what I did at Job that Does Not Blow - and I loved the professional credibility that I got from working there. But the plusses of having some more time on my hands - to finish the Thesis, to work

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1150923108688828852006-06-21T15:53:00.000-04:002006-06-21T16:51:48.720-04:00

My sugars have not been playing nice today. I had a high last night (where high is defined as 300+) due to some petulant post-dinner snacking. It came down nicely with a bedtime bolus and I woke up a little on the low side (62) this morning. After breakfast, I was 170. I gave a wee bolus.At lunch I was still 170. I ate the lunch special at our local Japanese resturant - miso soup, edamame, a

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1150821283864950842006-06-20T12:18:00.000-04:002006-06-20T12:34:43.906-04:00

After a fantastic weekend in flat cosmopolitan city (shout out to our lovely hostesses and the beauticious bride & groom) I came back to work today to find out that I am being laid off from the job that does NOT blow due to not getting the grant that would pay for my position to continue. I was very composed and did not cry in the director's office as he and my boss explained to me how wonderful

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1150428230925902292006-06-15T23:13:00.001-04:002006-06-15T23:23:50.950-04:00

We're leaving at the crack of dawn tommorrow morning to go to flat cosmopolitan city for a wedding (congrats dearest one). I won't be back until monday night and don't know if I'll have a chance to blog or comment in the interim. The horror, the horror. Will she survive? The one good thing about waking up to make a 6:15 flight is that it means I we don't have to wake up at 4am for a basal check

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1150226084771898232006-06-13T14:45:00.000-04:002006-06-13T15:18:19.830-04:00

At the moment, .5u/hour of saline is pumping into my abdomen.Tomorrow we go live. Woohoo!I have already had a Tubing Incident. The World's Most Wonderful Electricians came over today to fix a lengthy list of small things. For what it would have cost for them to say hi in Flat Cosmopolitan City, we had: two GFCIs installedbroken closet light fixedtwo broken outlets replaced, one of which could

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1150150971069495812006-06-12T18:22:00.000-04:002006-06-12T18:22:51.093-04:00

Assignment: A Bug's Eye ViewI really wanted to get out and take some pictures for this one. But it is COLD and RAINY and YUCKY and my macro lens is with my father in the Big City. So you get reheated, yet hopefully still yummy leftovers once again.First, a couple with the bugs in the picture:What the bug saw:I imagine this would be one of the last things the bug saw.Close up view.There's more on

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1150050464278265422006-06-11T14:20:00.000-04:002006-06-11T14:33:21.156-04:00

Someone with an ISP in Hinsdale, IL was my10,oooth hit!I'm soooo curious about these lurkers, especially the ones who show up on my statcounter again and again and never comment. Am I scary? Do I smell? If so, why do you keep coming around?I know that people wind up here and probably don't get what they're looking for.These folks for instance, who were led here by Professor Google.pictures of

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1149884222310869902006-06-09T15:30:00.000-04:002006-06-10T10:18:54.920-04:00

I started writing about this in the comments over at j's, and then realized a) I was totally hijacking her comments, and b) I wanted some feedback on this myself! A decisive cntrl-x, cntrl-v later, here I am:J. was writing about gender, and her anxieties and preferences about the gender of her as-yet unconceived child. I think there's some kind of lesbian blogging rule that requires all adopting/

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1149727828017928732006-06-07T20:39:00.000-04:002006-06-07T21:25:49.630-04:00

What do you call someone who is teetering on that fine line between acquaintance and friend?There is this woman, a friend? I will call her Hippie Sunshine, although that is not, believe it or not, her real name. I am sure she would say we are her friends, because she is of that sort of person who takes ownership of everything around her and makes it a reflection of her. I say that and it sounds

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1149618869991046672006-06-06T13:43:00.000-04:002006-06-06T14:34:30.033-04:00

We went to the RE's this morning so Pili could have a follow-up wanding with Nurse Tall and Brusque (TAB), who incidentally, I am really beginning to dislike. (Is it too much to ask that you give us the information we need to come to our conclusions and make our own decisions? What are you seeing in there, anyway?) For a minute I saw something that I imagined (heart leaping into chest, stomach

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1149540518645062642006-06-05T16:46:00.000-04:002006-06-05T16:48:38.670-04:00

"Marriage is the most fundamental institution of civilization, and it should not be redefined by activist judges."It takes a lot to do this to me, but I am simply beyond snark.

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691012.post-1149396269677598662006-06-03T23:58:00.000-04:002006-06-04T00:44:29.720-04:00

I do a lot of whinging here about where we live, otherwise known as "The City That Always Sleeps (But you can buy a really nice house for under 150K)." But there are some things I really like here. One is the new friends with whom (aren't I formal!) we had dinner tonight. We talked about our Guatemala plans, their adorable daughter, and about the difficulty of being the Trailing Spouse. Talking

art-sweetnoreply@blogger.com9