Actually, that’s only half true. Nearly 10 years ago I took a firearms class as a phys ed in college. My daddy taught me a few things on his ‘49 Mossberg & Sons 10/22 recently, so I’m not completely clueless.

Last year, for my birthday, I was *supposed* to go shooting with my friend Scott (who happens know his way around a socom and is also a member at a firing range up north). As I was well into my pregnancy at the time, there was just no way I could go — I mean, between the sound assault and the possibility of being in contact with harmful lead — just too dangerous for a wee fetus.

This birthday, a year and a week in the making — I went shooting. It was a little intimidating as I’m not generally around a whole lot of firearms, plus all the DUDES there with their various handguns and bear-hunting rifles…it was a lot to take in. Here’s to you Scott. Thanks for taking this chick to the firing range for her birthday. WHEEEEHAW!!!

And I’m taping this to my back door, lest anyone have any questions of my deadly accuracy:

We have a fundamental problem right now with the logistics of toting infant and dog around. Chris and I both drive modest sedans. Sedans do not offer a practical or safe way to transport a tender infant with a somewhat awkward and heavy dog. Hence, the time is coming very soon where one of the sedans will have to go.

The problem is, I am having a hard time deciding what the new car should be. Nevermind lease or buy (but at this point, lease is looking better and better all the time because some of these vehicles are pricey). So I’ve been keeping a shortlist of vehicles we are considering. Here it is in no particular order:

1. Toyota RAV 4

2. Mazda CX 7

3. Honda Pilot

4. Toyota Highlander

5. Subaru Forester

6. Subaru Outback Wagon

7. Saturn Outlook (we considered the Vue until we saw the tiny back cargo area)

8. Ford Escape/Mazda Tribute/Mercury Mariner

9. Buick Rendevous

10. Mitsubishi Outlander

11. Nissan Rogue

12. BMW x3 (NO, really. We found a used one from a private seller that is a ridiculously affordable price, actually more so affordable than a baseline Toyota Highlander or Honda Pilot)

After considering the list, it’s really not that short and it does complicate the vehicle hunt. I can safely eliminate minivans from consideration due to the fact I started my impressionable driving years in a Dodge Caravan. Done that, don’t need to do it again.

So I’ve been a little distracted lately between caring for the squirt and trying to research all these potential vehicles. Anyone want to help me test drive? So far I can only test drive one or two cars a day because I have to bring the wee one with me (and it’s really hard to determine road noise in a candidate vehicle with Reese going Code Red in the back seat).

Also, I’m currently carless for the next few days while I have some bodywork done on my car (we want to squeeze as much trade in value as we can). A little help getting out of the house would be rad.

There might be a metric ton of chocolates in it for you.

Also, I baked a cinnamon almond coffee cake today.

And now, I will attempt to nap.

For those who can’t look into my brain, here’s the next best thing.

On a culinary note: Thank you Jaime and Ben for the rockin’ Lasagna (Reese liked it too, guess the tomato sauce won’t be a problem) and the awesome apple pie. I likes me some apple pie.

On a ‘figurative’ note: I can zip and button *all my pants now, no maternity clothes needed!

Sleep Deprivation Level:  Highly irregular sleep cycle for me, daddy fares a little better as he doesn’t have to participate in mealtimes.  However, I do find time to post stuff from time to time.  We haven’t yet reached critical mass on the sleep deprivation.

(* Comment excludes the “skinny” jeans, will need a little more work to get back into those drawers.)

I’m starving now, so I will go forage for a snack.

Here we are, 36 weeks along. Photo courtesy of Rich Sharick, of www.richimagesonline.com. I’m usually a little funny around cameras, I always feel compelled to make some dumb looking face for the camera (must be a holdover from childhood). Check out the gallery for a few more shots (some even include a gratuitous bellyshot! Wooo!). Mind you, the pictures in the gallery are sized large so my mom and MIL can print these to Shutterfly.

I have my first official tag-response. The Gang at E-Lah quite snappily pulled together a fine South Park character. Thanks K! Still waiting on others — Bring it, Ms. “I’m engaged!” Kim! Yeah, I know you want to…

My moment of Zen before I toddle off to bed:

I get to snuggle with other peoples’ babies.

Cool Thing of the Month: One of my new colleagues came across a site that allows you to create your own South Park character. I haven’t actually watched SP that much since I was in college, but I did have a blast building my own character. And as you may have suspected… I built my character in my own image (I guess I’m just that self-absorbed). I’m not sure why I added the Wolverine style claws… latent mutant envy?

I tag thee Kim, Frizzle, The Gang at E-Lah…the challenge is on! Create Your Own South Park Character Now!

1. When I am really really happy OR when I feel very very sick, I rub my feet together. I really don’t know why, all I know is that I have done this since I was a kid. I started to pay closer attention to exactly when I do this. And today, I caught myself rubbing my besocked feet together when I was eating waffles with real maple syrup. I do likes the waffles!
2. Not unlike Kim’s “life as a movie” weirdness, when I listen to my MP3 player, I sometimes imagine myself (and whatever I am doing at the time) to be part of the music video for whatever song I am listening to. I get this feeling to start dancing on a pretend treadmill whenever I hear “Here It Goes Again” by OK Go. Whenever I hear anything from the “Kill Bill” Soundtrack, I am so wielding a Hattori Hanzo.
3. I really really enjoy Black Currant juice. It’s so hard to find, and it seems to be seasonal as I can only really find it around the Thanksgiving through Christmas holidays. I just found some Black Currant juice at Marc’s today, so I am totally stoked. Thanks Melinda, for that little quirk.
4. I think I am mildly obsessed with Craig’s List “Missed Connection” section. The ones that are my favorite posting are probably those where someone describes their “missed connection” in great detail…I wonder if those postings are ever answered. Since I’m not exactly sure if I believe in love at first sight, it fascinates me to read these postings where others pour out their hearts to a relatively faceless community. The other side of that coin is that there is a lot of “stalker” type of postings there too… total buzzkill. I dunno if this is even really a “weirdness”, but I’ve not really met anyone else that could confess they read the “Missed Connections” with such regularity.
5. I sleepwalk. I am a sleepwalker. I’ve fallen out of the top bunk of my college dorm bed, taken showers, microwaved food, and walked around to different parts of the house at night….all while dead asleep. I sometimes wake up at night, and I see things moving around and I am so convinced that they are real. I woken up numerous times standing in front windows. I have woken up crying on occasion.
6. I know it was supposed to be five, but I’ve decided to give you the sixth weirdness as a gift. I am terrified of lightning. I know everyone and my husband will tell me of how the statistics are in my favor to NOT get zapped by lightning, yet I still can’t shake the fear after hear a particularly LOUD CRACK of thunder. Even my mom thinks this particular fear is a bit odd, and maybe this is something I should grow out of. Maybe one day I will, but for now, I will just wait the storm out sitting in my car thanksverymuch.

So I pass the challenge on: What are your weirdnesses?