Deathly Hallows

Yep, finished it. I was done at about 5:30 pm on Saturday. Little later than I usually tear through those books, but after we picked it up at midnight I could only read for a couple of hours before my eyes started to cross and I couldn't discern if the language I was reading was actually English or not, so I had to admit defeat.

I slept a few hours and then read the rest. It's AMAZING! I loved it. Once the move is completely done and the apartment just a 3-floor memory, I will read it again. It's possibly my favorite in the series, which is a really tough call. It's also a bummer for me to think there will not be other books. However, I think she did an excellent job and treated the whole thing in the best way in my opinion. My mom is now done -- course she completely cheated and read the end. It was maddening because she did it in front of us. We were all sitting around the kitchen table getting started at 12:20 and she kept making noises of exclamation. I finally had to threaten physical violence.

Tom is not done yet, neither is my dad which is sorta maddening because it takes a lot of effort not to let anything slip when they talk about theories and where they are in the book. For the last book that came out I had to give my dad an ultimatum --finish in 3 days or I am blowing the ending. Course I didn't but dang it's hard!

In other news, I quit my job yesterday. Wasn't my plan, but sometimes things happen that make you realize it's time to go.

I was "getting feedback" from my manager yesterday morning. We get semi-annual reviews. Well, we do now, it used to just be annual but hey, whatever. I got raves, except "Meridith seems to have lost focus lately" Really? I wonder why that would be. Not that I haven't been doing my job just fine lately, but I seem scattered.

That wasn't the trigger. The subject of my pregnancy came up. Since there is the possibility of a c-section, this makes a difference in my leave. Or it could. Now, I am also currently covered under the FMLA act. I have so many hours I can use for doc's appointments, feeling like crud or anything related to my pregnancy. It's federal law and it protects my job. So my manager tells me she is "going to try to win Marci (my general manager, her boss) back over to my side" I ask what this means since I was not aware she wasn't "on my side"

Well she mentioned that you are "just another pregnant lady who calls in throughout her pregnancy." I'm sorry...WHAT? Um...ok. This is time I am legally entitled to and frankly, if it's a huge problem, why I am hearing about it now? I was also just plain surprised she actually said this out loud to me. Pretty unprofessional to repeat it to me as well if it was actually said.

What else comes out of this meeting? One of the other coaches says he should get my shift because he's always here and he deserves it. Again -- why is this being repeated to me? Now, normally I don't care about what sort of gossip is said about me. I am one of the top performing coaches EVERY time. Every time, not once in awhile, every time. My team's stats (which is the only thing call centers every care about) are always good. For the first 3 quarters were the top team. So it's maddening to hear that there is some question NOW.

So I left her office shortly after that went to my break. Being a rational pregnant lady -- I started to cry. There are not many things that I detest doing. Crying anywhere public, is one of them. How was supposed to feel ok about using leave until I go into labor? Yeah I decided now was the time. Obviously it was an issue, even if they wouldn't address it with me directly. I have gone through enough stress. Screw it. I quit.

I'm a little worried/nervous. It's been a long time since I have not worked. When I was a stay at home wife with my first husband, I quickly became a slave in some aspects. I had to beg for money for ANYTHING. When I had to ask if I could please have some money for tampons, I knew it was ridiculous. So...yeah part of me worries.

However, for now I am going to concentrate on enjoying the last bit of my pregnancy with no one yelling at me over their TV. Yee haw!!

Dumbledore's Army

Yes when it comes to Harry Potter, I am a fantastic nerd. Mom and I will be standing in line at the midnight sale at Border's on Friday. We have done it for every book. This will be a little harder since I have a pirate who loves to kick the crap out of me at night. That and I will be awake longer than I normally am. Well awake and standing.

The biggest challenge will be not getting home and reading the book straight through until I am done. I usually finish the next day. However we are moving out of our apartment on Sunday and I will be finishing packing and freaking out on Saturday. Ugh. However, I will no longer have to walk 3 flights of stairs every darn day. That I am super excited about. Then I just have to get through work and the next few weeks.

I have seen the newest movie twice. I dig the movies, but for completely selfish reasons, I am always bummed that they cannot include everything. Course Order of the Phoenix is 800 pages, so something has to go or the movie would be a year long. Which I would still watch in all honesty. Me and about 4 other people probably.

Tom and I joke all the time that Jack will probably end up hating Pirates, Harry Potter and pretty much everything we love because we get so nerdy about everything. He has heard 2 Potter books in utero because we read them out loud to each other. Yep. Nerds.

Boy oh Boy

Went to the doctor again today. Going every 2 weeks is pretty strange. Every 4 weeks seemed like it was pretty far away -- now it feels like as soon as I leave, I am going back.

So my little boy apparently likes having his head up. Today the doctor brought up the possibility that I may need to have a c-section. She told me at the next appointment, I will have an ultrasound and we can decide if we can get him to move "by pushing the heck out of your stomach." Of course it's harder now because he's a lot bigger so there isn't a ton of wiggle room for him now. However he does move quite a bit so there is a chance he will decide to point his little head down.

It's strange, I never really considered that I would be having a c-section. I have been debating wanting an epidural or other pain meds, never really thought about not needing to make the choice. Interesting.

However it's not set in stone yet. We shall see what happens. I suppose on the positive side, I can probably miss the 9/11 date if we have come to that. So I will wait and see what my little pirate decides to do.

baby got back

Holy cow I am now gaining weight. Ok, it's like 3 pounds but it's pretty amazing to finally see a baby belly that sticks out a little past my boobs. I am also experiencing swelling which is very very attractive. I am sure a lot of it is the heat but on the 4th I looked down after spending the afternoon with the folks and OH MAN! I had CANKLES!!

My legs have always been pretty decent. Shapely overall especially for someone as short as myself, with thin ankles. Yeah -- those are gone. Give me a couple hours on my feet and I no longer recognize this part of my body. Completely strange.

On a different note...July 4th has always been a mixed bag for me. Don't get me wrong, I really do love my country. The freedoms (those that haven't been reduced in the name of safety or such in post-9/11 times) we enjoy are something to appreciate. And here is where I start to have my problems. This country still has racism, sexism, we do not acknowledge that homosexuals are people who deserve basic human rights and freedoms. Our homeless population tends to be made up primarily of our veterans and the mentally ill and in the last few years, more and more families. There are thousands who do not have health insurance, a safe place to live or access to a decent education. So as I am watching tv and seeing fireworks and listening to the 1812 Overture it makes me happy and sad. I really wish the country celebrated its birthday, I wish the people here were all truly free.

Just to show that I am not a complete jerk and hater of all things U.S. here is a Merf is a sap moment. My sister flew in today for a week and Jack's baby shower. As we were waiting for her to come up the stairs after the train; I saw a young soldier in his desert cammies come up. His 2 kids ran up to him holding a sign 'Welcome Home Popi we missed you!" and jumped into his arms. His wife gave him a hug and kiss and started to cry. At this moment, I started to bawl. For all my cynicism, I am not heartless and I appreciate the sacrifice this man and his family made.

So there you go...I'm not all bad