n e n i e tag:movabletype.space-pirates.org,2007-08-09:/nenie/2 2009-07-02T02:15:59Z When I tell a story, it is not as an ideologue who wants to pit one absolutist ideology against another, but as a storyteller who wants to share her way of seeing. -Arundhati Roy Movable Type Pro 4.25 This Week in Weight Loss tag:movabletype.space-pirates.org,2009:/nenie//2.1286 2009-07-02T02:13:01Z 2009-07-02T02:15:59Z Previous Week's Weight: 264.0lbsThis Week's Weight: 263.0lbsThis Week's Loss: -1.0lbsTotal Weight Lost: -5.0lbsNext Goal: 254.6lbsPounds to Go 8.4lbs... nenie jen This Week's Weight: 263.0lbs
This Week's Loss: -1.0lbs
Total Weight Lost: -5.0lbs
Next Goal: 254.6lbs
Pounds to Go 8.4lbs


]]>
Routine.

Routines are important because they're the easiest kind of structure to implement.  But this week has been almost routine but not quite, which is way more nerve wracking than being totally not routine at all.

All in all, not bad.  I still need to drink more water.  It's hard because it's just not something I think of.  Hell, beverages of any kind aren't really something I think of.  So, yknow, I need to fix that.
]]> This Week in Weight Loss tag:movabletype.space-pirates.org,2009:/nenie//2.1285 2009-06-27T04:36:00Z 2009-06-27T15:45:31Z Yup, it's back and I'm three weeks behind, so here's the quick recapJune 4, 2009 This Week's Weight: 268.0lbs Next Goal: 254.6lbs Pounds to Go 13.4lbsJune 11, 2009Previous Week's Weight: 268.0lbsThis Week's Weight: 266.2lbs This Week's Loss: -1.8lbs Total Weight... nenie jen
June 4, 2009
This Week's Weight: 268.0lbs
Next Goal: 254.6lbs
Pounds to Go 13.4lbs

June 11, 2009
Previous Week's Weight: 268.0lbs
This Week's Weight: 266.2lbs
This Week's Loss: -1.8lbs
Total Weight Lost: -1.8lbs
Next Goal: 254.6lbs
Pounds to Go 11.6lbs

June 18, 2009
Previous Week's Weight: 266.2lbs
This Week's Weight: 270.0lbs
This Week's Loss: +4.6lbs
Total Weight Lost: +2.0lbs
Next Goal: 254.6lbs
Pounds to Go 15.4lbs

June 25, 2009
Previous Week's Weight: 270.0lbs
This Week's Weight: 264.0lbs
This Week's Loss: -6.0lbs
Total Weight Lost: -4.0lbs
Next Goal: 254.6lbs
Pounds to Go 9.4lbs





 ]]>
Long story short, I've gained a shitton of weight since we moved to Santa Fe and I need to get it off...so, yknow, here we go.]]> Try, Try Again tag:movabletype.space-pirates.org,2009:/nenie//2.1284 2009-06-25T23:45:48Z 2009-06-25T23:46:19Z nenie jen
Fatherhood.

It's not the deal I thought it'd be.

I'm not really sure what I expected fatherhood to be like.  As with so many things in this life there was no instruction manual to help you get ready for it, and the books that are written are too mom-centric for me to handle.  

So I've winged it.  

One of the funny things about my life is that the best things are often defined by how they don't suck.  Like when I decided I wanted to marry Nena, I knew I wanted to marry her because I knew my worst days with her would be better than my best days without her.  Same goes with Tico.  Even the worst days, like the two ER visits and the subsequent hospital stays, are better than Tico-free good days.  

Right now I'm spending a lot of time with Tico.  My job's affording me a lot of telecommuting time so I'm able to hang out with him and learn who my kid is.  By and large, he's an awesome guy.  

]]> Barça Update tag:movabletype.space-pirates.org,2009:/nenie//2.1277 2009-04-02T16:58:00Z 2009-04-02T17:00:09Z To all those who emailed yesterday (or commented) with congratulations, thank you.But you really should check the date on the post....It really is a goal of ours to live there, but it's not a goal we're going to achieve any... nenie jen
But you really should check the date on the post....

It really is a goal of ours to live there, but it's not a goal we're going to achieve any time soon.

Though, it's nice to see that so many folks believe it could happen...anyway, I should run.  Tico just peed all over, well, everything.
]]> Sudden Changes tag:movabletype.space-pirates.org,2009:/nenie//2.1276 2009-04-01T14:15:01Z 2009-04-01T14:19:32Z A few months ago, like, around the time I applied for the fellowship that's sending me to Ghana I was encouraged to apply for a job at The American School of Barcelona. Well, we're moving there this summer baby...... nenie jen The American School of Barcelona.

Well, we're moving there this summer baby...

WHOO!

We're pretty psyched. Tico will get a chance to grow up around his cousin Lou and learn Spanish the way I did, by hearing it around him all the time.

And Barca.  Dude, Camp Nou...it a'int Wrigley Field, but it'll do awesome.
]]> Enter the Madness tag:movabletype.space-pirates.org,2009:/nenie//2.1275 2009-03-16T03:33:21Z 2009-03-16T03:42:25Z nenie jen NCAA Tournament Pool. 

If you're new here and want in, email me at first.last {at} alumni.carleton.edu.

Rules are simple.  No money, just pride.  Set your bracket and talk smack for a few weeks.

64 points up for grabs every round divided out amongst the total number of games.

First Round: 32 games=2 points per game
Second Round: 16 games= 4 points per game...

First round has upset points.  Get the seed in points for picking the game.

Everything locks Thursday @  12:25 p ET.
]]> The Return tag:movabletype.space-pirates.org,2009:/nenie//2.1272 2009-03-15T04:15:39Z 2009-03-15T04:20:44Z nenie jen Family Portrait

I know, I know...I've been slacking in my duties around here.

But that's because I've been busy with my son.

Nenie IV arrived at 8:33am on February 18th.  At birth he weighed 8lbs, 11oz. and was 22in long. 

Yeah, big kid.

Tico (as he heretofore will be referred to) is doing well.  Nena and I are...getting by.

A few thoughts.

1) I'm really glad that I didn't have children until now.  I don't know that I would have dealt very well with the last few weeks at 25 or 20 or 15.  I know there are other people who have done an amazing job, I just know that I wouldn't have been one of them.

2) This whole thing is really fun, but not what I expected.  For the first few days I kept expecting this life-altering realization to come.  And it didn't.  Tico is here, that's the reality of it I accepted it and now I try and make it work.  I know this sounds hella negative, and it's not meant that way.  It's just that like with most things, the advertising doesn't match the experience.  Parenthood isn't a sudden epiphany, it's the slow process of discovering which way is up. 

3) Mothers and fathers relate to things differently.  Yeah, I know, duh.  But seeing the stark differences between the way Nena and I relate to Tico is really interesting.  At first, I think Nena believed that I didn't love Tico.  The reality is that mothers and fathers express their love differently.  Nena needs to hold Tico at all times.  I'm happy to sit and watch because I get to see my wife and son enjoy each other's company and that makes me happy beyond belief.

OK, more to come with the years.  But, I had to start somewhere.
]]> More Grandparents tag:movabletype.space-pirates.org,2009:/nenie//2.1264 2009-02-16T21:09:12Z 2009-02-16T21:11:47Z nenie jen
"querido (a) y adorado (a) toaster solo  te escribo para decirte que ye esta perdiendo las ventas de dia de los presidentes si no te apuras vaeras que te perderas de las cosas mas cute  y lo mejor en sale love abuelita bella"

Translation

Dear Beloved Toaster-

I just wanted to write and tell you that you're missing the Presidents' Day Sales.  If you you don't hurry up you're going to miss the cutest of the sale stuff.

Love,

Abuelita Bella.

______________________

For the record, my folks don't read my blog...or Twitter...so this is unsolicited cuteness...and consumerism.
]]> Grandparents, HA! tag:movabletype.space-pirates.org,2009:/nenie//2.1263 2009-02-15T20:25:30Z 2009-02-15T20:26:42Z nenie jen
"Hi Toaster this is your Abuelito Tico.  Hurry up and get here because we have the champagne waiting.  OK, half the champagne, we had some last night, we couldn't wait.  Bye."
]]> Toaster Pool...Actual Last Call tag:movabletype.space-pirates.org,2009:/nenie//2.1262 2009-02-12T04:45:18Z 2009-02-12T04:57:40Z Well, the due date's come and gone and still no Toaster.So, in a shameless attempt to milk more money to seed Toaster's college fund here it is, your last shot at getting in on the Toaster Pool.There are plenty of... nenie jen
So, in a shameless attempt to milk more money to seed Toaster's college fund here it is, your last shot at getting in on the Toaster Pool.

There are plenty of good dates left including....THE INDUCTION DATE.

Yup, they scheduled us for an induction sometime on the calendar below...I'll give you a hint, the induction date currently has no bidders. 

And seriously, everyone thinks Toaster is a girl?  Really?  Cuz the bets for boys have been minimal, yo...minimal.

OK, get to bidding...

Toaster Pool.jpg

]]> Mix Tape Update tag:movabletype.space-pirates.org,2009:/nenie//2.1261 2009-02-10T05:03:53Z 2009-02-10T05:05:49Z Well, the mix is done...here's the cover. Track list below the cut...... nenie jen

bret hart mix.jpg































Track list below the cut...
]]> {2} American Car  -  Mike Doughty
{3} Letter Read  -  Rachael Yamagata
{4} Living Well Is The Best Revenge  -  R.E.M.
{5} Independently Happy  -  Blue October    
{6} Lithium  -  Nirvana
{7} Skinny Love  -  Bon Iver
{8} Helena  -  Nickel Creek    
{9} King Of Pain  -  The Police    
{10} Fool, I'm A Woman  -  Sara Evans
{11} Goodbye Earl  -  Dixie Chicks
{12} The New Year  -  Death Cab for Cutie
{13} Rocket  -  Smashing Pumpkins
{14} Loyal to My Sorrowful Country  -  Ted Leo & the Pharmacists    
{15} Stupid Now  -  Bob Mould
{16} Ciega, Sordomuda  -  Shakira
{17} Working Class Hero  -  Green Day    
{18} We Are Not Going To Make It  -  The Presidents Of The United States Of America

]]> Bret Hart Mixtape 2 tag:movabletype.space-pirates.org,2009:/nenie//2.1260 2009-02-09T04:45:54Z 2009-02-09T04:50:51Z nenie jen
Every time one of our bosses does something stupid...we make another mix in our Bret Hart Mixtape series.

They're fun to make, and we've found that they help us move on. 

Nena's been listening to the Santa Fe Screwjob volume I made after I was passed over for a promotion at the Minuteman...so I made a new one to reflect her current employment situation.

Mix sounds pretty good...but we need a title, I'm torn between two of them.

Thoughts?

"The Best There Is, The Best There Was, The Best There Ever Will Be Wouldn't Work Here."

or

"Excellence of Execution Is Not Part of the Program." ]]> The Keene Act tag:movabletype.space-pirates.org,2009:/nenie//2.1259 2009-02-06T13:33:04Z 2009-02-06T13:50:51Z nenie jen A quick diversion from BabyWatch 09 to bring you this important PSA.




It's from the new Watchmen film.  It's things like this that make me think they didn't screw this up.

So.
So.
Psyched.

]]> Toaster Pool...Nearly Last Call... tag:movabletype.space-pirates.org,2009:/nenie//2.1257 2009-02-05T03:03:06Z 2009-02-05T03:06:13Z nenie jen Toaster Pool I unveiled a few months ago.

Well, there's been some action on the pool, a few dates missed and a lot of good slots left.  So, I've placed all the bets on a calendar.  If you want in, comment with a date and a gender and then send me $10.  Winner gets half the pot.

Remember, you can't pick a combo that's already been picked...so yeah.

Here's the calendar.

Toaster Pool.jpg

]]> Frustration tag:movabletype.space-pirates.org,2009:/nenie//2.1256 2009-01-31T04:16:59Z 2009-01-31T04:30:24Z nenie jen
Weeks ago he approved Nena's maternity leave proposal.  Then, two weeks ago he calls her into his office to let her know that he's reconsidered her proposal and he's going to counter with a better proposal that works for him.

It should be noted here that her employer has no maternity leave policy and if you are pregnant you are expected to write a letter telling the college what you'd like your leave to be.  Then they start negotiating with you.

What he objects to is her proposed telecommuting schedule.  He says "how do I know you're actually going to work from home?  What if you have a colicky baby?  You won't work at all.  You don't know what you're getting into.  I can't trust you to work from home."

Nevermind that a fundamental part of Nena's job is telecommuting EVERY FALL. 

Nevermind that she's gotten sterling reviews every year she's been there.

Nevermind that the boss's former lieutenant NEVER worked when she was IN THE OFFICE.

And because I'm a good person, I won't mention the time she got so drunk at a professional conference she fell down at the conference mixer.

Yeah. 

A week goes by and he informs her that he's still waiting for her revised proposal.  What?  Wasn't he going to tell her what was appropriate leave? 

Yeah, he changed his mind and didn't tell Nena.

The next day she gives him her revised proposal.  He says he'll take it under advisement and render his decision by the end of the week.

Well, he left town on Thursday without giving her a decision.  He won't be back until Wednesday...Nena's 39 weeks pregnant people.  She could have Toaster any day...and he's still refusing to let her go on maternity leave.

Nena emailed the HR office today to let them know that she needs to know what's going on with her leave.

They told her to calm down and be patient.

PATIENT?  THE WOMAN COULD HAVE A CHILD AT ANY MOMENT.

I'm taking this all in stride.  I figure we could name Toaster after Nena's boss.

Dipshit Hidalgo has such a nice ring to it.
]]>