The Olympics Make Me Cry

But in a good way. I try to convince everyone I'm tough, however I'm sure anyone who knows me knows I'm a big old softie. This is nowhere more apparent than when I watch the opening and closing Olympic ceremonies. I missed the Beijing opening ceremonies because I was returning home after a long day of apartment hunting in Bellingham, but I caught the closing ceremonies this evening and I must admit to tearing up.

Part of it might be that, despite my degree in international politics, my political motto can best be expressed "Can't we all just get along?" The Olympics seem to have the same motto, albeit more eloquently expressed. So seeing all the athletes enjoying themselves after accomplishing so much makes me a little misty (although not too misty not to notice that the Ralph Lauren Polo emblem took up a third of team USA's shirts. Nice.). But I nearly broke down into real sobs when the big, red London bus made its appearance to promote the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. Sometimes I forget how seriously I miss London and England and how intense my homesickness for that place can still be, especially as autumn draws near and I start thoughts with "Nine years ago today I was in . . . " I so want to go back.

Whilst watching the London presentation for the 2012 games, my heart actually started to hurt. I am not exaggerating. Does that sound insane to you? Because I sometimes question my sanity when I think back about how much I loved it there. Would it be committing treason to say I felt like I belonged in London more than any other place I have lived? Is it totally naive to think that I do belong there? Am I just waxing nostalgic and looking at the whole experience through rose-colored glasses? Is it crazy to feel more at home in a foreign country than in m own? These are questions I ask myself on a regular basis. All because, when I see a red, double-decker bus I start to cry.

The Peanut At 4 1/2 Months

He's in the 96th percentile of pretty much everything and already has a tooth coming in! Plus, he is showing an early interest in books which makes my reading heart proud. 

Things That Warm My Cold, Cold Heart

The Gummi Bear enjoying the fruits of my labors!

Even if I had to see it on Facebook instead of it being sent to me, Mime. ; )

I May Be Biased, But . . .

I don't think it is overstating matters to call the Gummi Bear adorable.

On her birth day.

At nearly a week old.

I can't hardly wait the next 17 days until I see her!

Basically Anything That Is Awesome

I have been neglecting my blog and my lovely readers, so I thought I would make up for it by recapping the last month or so of my life. Categorized by the relative awesomeness of said events.

Things That Are Awesome:

• Finding an apartment. Finally. Had many a freak-out about the possibility of my being homeless and living in my car whilst going to school.
• The Dark Knight. Seriously go see it if you haven't already. I have seen it twice and I am still thinking about it. You won't be able to take your eyes of Heath Ledger as The Joker.
• The arrival of Gummi Bear (I'm still waiting on pics of her that I can post. I do have some, but they aren't that flattering to Mrs. Mime, and I don't want to do that to her!)
• Not having to go to work every morning. Seriously love determining what I do and when I do it. Freedom!
• I made a practically perfect pie crust on Monday. I know! It has never happened before and will probably never happen again, but it did happen!
• Michael Phelps
• The Internet. Parker moved to a place that is wired and we have enjoyed a few late night chats via IM. These conversations are always enjoyable. Case in point:
  

  Scully: Please tell me it is a ridiculous extravagance to pre-order Season 3 of Supernatural as I am unemployed and going to grad school.
  

  Parker: I can't do that. I can, however, nicely encourage you to order them.
  

  Scully: This is why we are friends.
  

  Parker: hee. You're gonna need some AlecDean to get you through those rainy fall nights. I'm just sayin.
  

Things That Are Slightly Less Than Awesome:

• The X-Files: I Want To Believe. I wanted desperately to love this movie. As an X-Phile, I enjoyed it, but it kind of left me wanting more. And I don't know exactly what it is I wanted, but it just made me very sad that there would be no more. And now I desperately want the complete series on DVD. But I don't have the requisite $275 (plus shipping & handling) that Amazon demands before they will send it to me.
• The fact that what have been choosing to do with the freedom of being unemployed is sleep. I still get up at 6:40 am to have breakfast with my dad, but after I read my scriptures and say farewell to my dad, I go back to sleep and don't usually wake up until 10 am. Even if I set the alarm on my mobile and hide it at the opposite side of the room.
• Reading The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher until midnight and realizing how freaked out I was by said book so that I had to read North & South until 1 am to get it out of my head. Which led to another morning lounging in bed until 10.

Things That Are The Opposite Of Awesome:

• Mental freak-outs about: possible homelessness; the fact that I haven't heard from the Financial Aid office about the form I sent in over a month ago and that HAD to be in at the end of July; realizing I had no idea when I needed to register for classes and thinking I might have missed the window (I didn't); reading here that drinking cola everyday doubles your chances of chronic kidney disease; packing; moving; paying for everything and many, many more.
• The hiatus of Doctor Who for more than a year whilst David Tennant does Hamlet for the RSC. Plus, season 4 of Doctor Who ended on such a downer note, I really wanted something a bit cheerier sooner. There are going to be a couple one-off specials, but who knows if anyone in the US will even air them.
• Allergies.
• The prohibitive cost of cable and high-speed internet, both of which are necessary to my survival as a human being.

A Rather Auspicious Beginning

The Gummi Bear made her appearance today, 08/08/08, a day considered very lucky by the Chinese (hence the opening ceremonies of the Olympics) and just a cool numerical coincidence. She weighed in at 7 lbs 8 oz and 19 inches (As per Mime's comment, she is actually 19 1/2 inches). She has very dark eyes, which means they will probably be brown like her mother's. I'll post pics when I can.

Like A Very Bad Flashback

I now have time to catch up on my Netflix queue, and finally got around to watching the last Christopher Guest movie For Your Consideration. This deleted scene gave me the most horridly hilarious sense of deja vu, because it was (excepting the hand holding) so much like a conversation one might have with TheOwner at my former place of employment. Just thought you would enjoy a peek into what was once my life. I am so glad I don't have to face the office tomorrow!