My sentiments exactly.....

CNN.com - Commentary:�The reality of 'Grey's Anatomy' - Sep 21, 2006

I don't get into TV that much, but Grey's Anatomy rocks. You should check it out if you haven't already!

These probably only amuse me........

Lewis Black (from Silver Spring), on Silver Spring...

"Its only claim to fame is that it's the largest unincorporated city in America. In other words, we were too lazy to govern ourselves. The town motto was, 'I'd like to vote, but I don't feel like driving."

"It's like growing up nowhere."

Lewis Black - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Letting it all hang out.....

This is what I used to look like (yeah, that's me on the right):


This is what I look like now:


Why the photo history? Because I joined Weight Watchers today. The actual meetings...in public...with others like myself. Don't think I ever imagined that I'd be there, but...in the past 10 years...I've gotten married, had 2 children, finished my doctorate.....and gained 75....yes, 75 pounds. My battle with myself over my weight is something that I've typically kept to myself. I can't explain the sudden need for disclosure, but maybe if it's public, I'll be more committed. I know that I can't be a 22 year old hippie again (as I was in the picture), but I can be the active, healthful person that I used to be. It's hard to find the time and motivation and energy to fight the inertia (particularly when Mr. Noah Louis still gets up in the middle of the night), but I want to be fit so that I can enjoy my boys to the fullest and so that I can be a good role model for them...so that maybe they can avoid these battles in their lives. I'm starting tomorrow. Operation Slimdown.

Jacob is SO over meeting new relatives....

Jacob meets his new baby cousin for the first time...


Clearly, he is not impressed...


Perhaps he'll re-evaluate when he realizes that this little guy doesn't live with us!

Ravenstahl Sworn In As New Mayor of Pittsburgh- Yahoo! News

Wow. Ravenstahl is my brother, Adam's, college roommate from Washington and Jefferson.


Ravenstahl Sworn In As New Mayor of Pittsburgh - Yahoo! News

Here are the pictures, Elizabeth!

My dear friend, Elizabeth, requested some new photos of the boys on my blog. I've been so enamoured with the "BlogThis!" function that I've forgotten to update on the happenings of the fam....here goes...in brief...

Noah is sitting up and cutting a tooth and eating solid food (he LOVES his cereal, fruit, and veggies). He also has a cold. Despite it all, he is very happy and smiley and he adores his big brother. We think that he is brilliant.

Paul decided to begin potty training Jacob last Saturday (apparently we have to do the training...I just thought that one day Jacob would come to us and say, "Okay, I'm peeing on the potty today". Not so much how it really works). I have to admit that I was very scared on day 1...scared of the mess that we were going to create in our house and the general inconvenience of not-very-absorbent underwear (Elmo, Spiderman, Cars, and Thomas the Tank Engine tighty-whities, I might add)....and by 1p, we'd been through 6 pairs of pants! However, things improved rapidly, and he is doing exceptionally well! Today...no accidents at all! We've even ventured out of the house twice without incident (I am very afraid that he will pee in my car...hasn't happened!). Anyway, so sorry about all of the potty talk, but any parent...hell, anyone who's changed a diaper can relate to what a banner day it is when you can get a child out of diapers! Also, Jacob has a cold. Daycare. Surprise, surprise. We also think that Jacob is brilliant.

Speaking of daycare, Jake and Noah's school was closed this entire week for "staff training"...as they do every year at this time, but usually we're at the beach so no big deal. Not this year...thanks so much to Mom, who worked 24 hours, then got in the car and drove 4 hours to watch the kids all day..and the next day, before getting in the car to drive 4 hours, go to bed, and work a full day...above and beyond the call of duty...thank you.... and Louise for pinch-hitting today, thanks for all of your help...Paul and I are very excited to send Jake to daycare next week so that they can deal with the potty training..at least during the day!

Not much else happening...we actually have not one plan this weekend...that NEVER happens. Don't know what we'll do with ourselves. Chill with the boys...and I have a fantasy of sleeping in one of the three days....that would be divine! Actually, over the past few weeks, (since Noah's been about 6 months old), our family time has become more relaxed and less chaotic. I'm convinced that the first 6 months with a baby in the house is chaos, pure and simple....but we're heading out of that phase, and Noah enjoys Jake and Jake enjoys Noah, and Noah is a little less dependent on me (just a little)....and we're having a lot of fun. It's all very sweet.