Can't come up with anything catchy. Tomorrow is Turkey day and the official start of the "holiday season." I feel like even trying to find a job during the holiday season is pointless no one hires until January and everyone is distracted and preoccupied and not much work even gets done. Like how i try to justify the fact that I am resigned to my unemployed state? I just can't seem to make money making a priority.
Yesterday I met with the midwife again who was shocked that we hadn't talked about what any of the tests meant, she said she always talks to people about them, well not to me! The good news is that all the tests look normal no alarming freaky diseases at this point. But then she listened to the heartbeat and said she had NEVER heard such a fast heart beat on such a small fetus before. When they start moving around a lot the heart rate can soar but at this stage they ain't really working out too much. It was so high that it was off the dopler and she had to use her watch. she counted 200!
I got a flat tire on the way to her office and made a mad dash for the subway with my bike to get there on time so maybe the fetus was just really excited, though my heartrate was only at 80, as exciting as a flat was. . . The only theory she could come up with was that I was on too high a dosage of synthroid so she took more blood. Of course with tom. being thanksgiving i probably won't find out anything for a while and meanwhile my blob of a baby is running marathons in there. She said she had no idea why the baby would be working so hard but i guess better that than a faint heartbeat or missing heart beats.
This weekend Mr. T and I watched The Business of Being Born the homebirth movement cult classic. I think Mr. T is beginning to understand some of my critiques of hospitals and OB's and is even coming around to the idea of a home birth. You know it's good agit prop when Mr. T woke up the next morning and said he had a dream about labor, it's starting to sink in!
I have decided to go to the Hazon food conference in CA again over Xmas so I have to go and write some essays to hopefully get a full scholarship to attend. . .
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Please explain
Here's a great ad. It's got everything I love: missing words, a ridiculous concept, and no pay:
Need photographer for vegan calender shoot (brooklyn)
Date: 2009-11-18, 11:12PM EST
Reply to: gigs-5efyh-1472606486@craigslist.org [Errors when replying to ads?]
We are making a calender to benefit vegan and animal rights non- profits. The models are going to be nude in different themes for each month and they will each give a quick vegan recipe. We are looking for a talented photographer looking to donate their time for the experience and good cause. Please email with samples of work, must be able to shoot in the next couple weeks as we need to get the calender out asap, and having resources to studios or ideas you have are a plus but not a deal breaker. This will be a lot of fun for you and great for a portfolio. I look forward to working with you.
* Location: brooklyn
* it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests
* Compensation: no pay
Please explain to me what nude models have to do with vegan recipes or animal rights! Where do people come up with these things?
The endocronologist finally got back to me last night and has decided to put me on a low dosage of synthroid, a thyroid medicine that apparently cannot be taken with food in your system. She said to take it first thing in the morning and then wait a full 30 minutes before having breakfast. I should then wait to take my prenatal vitamins until the afternoon so they don't interfere with the synthroid absorption. I cannot possibly wait 30 minutes before eating breakfast! When I wake up I am starving and can't even wait five minutes before eating. So I took it last night at 2 AM during a bathroom visit. Considering I wake up at least once a night to pee, usually more, I plan on taking it then, I hope that doesn't screw up the effectiveness.
I of course spent a few hours last night reading all over again about low thyroid and pregnancy and there are all these studies that prove that women with low thyroid had babies with lower IQs than "normal" moms. One article I read actually said, "than normal moms!" how can they possibly pinpoint that? How do they know it's the thyroid lowering the IQ and not a 1000 other factors? I also don't understand how I could not have a single one of the symptoms and still possibly be dumbing down our baby. The doctor said she has seen plenty of women with my levels who have fine babies, but are they just a wee bit dumber than they would have been?
Fun thoughts.
A job would be good right about now.
Need photographer for vegan calender shoot (brooklyn)
Date: 2009-11-18, 11:12PM EST
Reply to: gigs-5efyh-1472606486@craigslist.org [Errors when replying to ads?]
We are making a calender to benefit vegan and animal rights non- profits. The models are going to be nude in different themes for each month and they will each give a quick vegan recipe. We are looking for a talented photographer looking to donate their time for the experience and good cause. Please email with samples of work, must be able to shoot in the next couple weeks as we need to get the calender out asap, and having resources to studios or ideas you have are a plus but not a deal breaker. This will be a lot of fun for you and great for a portfolio. I look forward to working with you.
* Location: brooklyn
* it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests
* Compensation: no pay
Please explain to me what nude models have to do with vegan recipes or animal rights! Where do people come up with these things?
The endocronologist finally got back to me last night and has decided to put me on a low dosage of synthroid, a thyroid medicine that apparently cannot be taken with food in your system. She said to take it first thing in the morning and then wait a full 30 minutes before having breakfast. I should then wait to take my prenatal vitamins until the afternoon so they don't interfere with the synthroid absorption. I cannot possibly wait 30 minutes before eating breakfast! When I wake up I am starving and can't even wait five minutes before eating. So I took it last night at 2 AM during a bathroom visit. Considering I wake up at least once a night to pee, usually more, I plan on taking it then, I hope that doesn't screw up the effectiveness.
I of course spent a few hours last night reading all over again about low thyroid and pregnancy and there are all these studies that prove that women with low thyroid had babies with lower IQs than "normal" moms. One article I read actually said, "than normal moms!" how can they possibly pinpoint that? How do they know it's the thyroid lowering the IQ and not a 1000 other factors? I also don't understand how I could not have a single one of the symptoms and still possibly be dumbing down our baby. The doctor said she has seen plenty of women with my levels who have fine babies, but are they just a wee bit dumber than they would have been?
Fun thoughts.
A job would be good right about now.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
1 more thing
Another really cool thing about homebirth midwives is that they do all the prenatal visits in your apartment! Which means no longer waiting a full hour in a cramped waiting room to meet a distracted provider. While I was waiting to meet the endocronologist last week who has yet to get back to me with my blood work results there were literally 4 different pharmacutical reps. who stopped by the office to drop off pens and fancy booklets about the drugs they were pedaling. One of the other doctors flirted with 3 pretty girls and promised to call them as soon as he had made a decision. These women dress in these horrible suits and are so dolled up it's amazing they can even walk. How do you get up every morning and do that? It's one of the more depressing career choices. So instead of sitting in a room where the clock has a corporate ad and the sheet that doesn't cover my body, and every square inch of the room has been sold and bid on I can actually just be in my apartment with mice and roaches instead!
As I was about to publish this post a little ad popped up on the screen for bluebird midwifery practice, blogger saw that I was writing about midwifes and thought I might like to call this practice, how sweet of them! There's one midwife I will NOT be calling!
As I was about to publish this post a little ad popped up on the screen for bluebird midwifery practice, blogger saw that I was writing about midwifes and thought I might like to call this practice, how sweet of them! There's one midwife I will NOT be calling!
is unpaid work still work?
I seem to be very good at creating unpaid work opportunities for myself. I started a CSA in Corwn Heights which has turned in to so much more work than I would have ever guessed and I am paid in vegetables! Our farmer just announced that he is raising the cost of a share next year by $20. This doesn't sound like a lot but he already has one of the highest rates of any farmer around. We are committed to attracting more economically diverse members and providing organic produce to everyone regardless of income. We also have to charge an admin fee to cover some of our expenses and I am worried that extra $20 is going to put people over the edge. When I asked him his reason for raising the rate he got very defensive and started talking about his labor costs:
"As a vegetable farm we are exempt from overtime wage regulations, but we, along with our staff, regularly put in more than 70 hours per week. In reality, all of my staff is really just happy to have the work and income. But, I give no other benefits than being an honest and worthy employer. They in return, have given us the best of their labor. While most are seasonal employees, the majority of them have returned year after year, something that I do wish to take for granted."
Now he is not saying that I am raising my price so that we can give out raises or pay overtime or benefits, he's just saying labor is pricey.
A friend of Mr. T's recently wrote a disturbing article about how farmworkers she's talked to prefer to work for big corporations than small family farms because the pay is better and they actually get benefits. I wanted to scream when I read her argument but here I am contributing to a farmer who is admitting to exploiting his workers and doesn't seem too upset about it.
Our farmers rates are so high already that we cannot afford to have a sliding scale program where higher income members pay a higher rate to subsidize lower income shares because our minimum payment is too high. Is there any way that we can use our consumer power to demand that he pay his workers more? Can we offer to pay even more for a share if it translates in to raises? But what about low-income members in our community? How can we support them and not exploit workers? It's really complicated! But has me thinking about whether I can somehow become a consultant that works with CSA's to help them have these challenging conversations with their farmers, and to make members aware of the fact that they are supporting a local business who may not be treating workers as well as we'd like to imagine they are.
What I have been thinking about more and more lately is how maybe I have been taking the wrong approach sitting passively by and sending out resumes to groups that are already stuck in the way they do things. I hate office politics and I hate sitting at a desk for 8 hours a day. I think I need to start my own thing whether a consultant or something else, but how do you really make something like that happen? Especially when my natural instinct is to do things for free. . .
In other news we caught a mouse this morning. I bought 4 different kinds of traps and poison and the snap trap is now my favorite!
I have also made an appointment to meet with home delivery midwifes. Though NY is a big city it's really not. All the midwifes know each other so I had to be careful about what I said about my current midwife. When I said that she is more medically minded than I am looking for, the response was "oh yes she's good but very medical, we have a very different approach." Hopefully they can convince Mr. T that a homebirth does not translate in to a death sentence!
"As a vegetable farm we are exempt from overtime wage regulations, but we, along with our staff, regularly put in more than 70 hours per week. In reality, all of my staff is really just happy to have the work and income. But, I give no other benefits than being an honest and worthy employer. They in return, have given us the best of their labor. While most are seasonal employees, the majority of them have returned year after year, something that I do wish to take for granted."
Now he is not saying that I am raising my price so that we can give out raises or pay overtime or benefits, he's just saying labor is pricey.
A friend of Mr. T's recently wrote a disturbing article about how farmworkers she's talked to prefer to work for big corporations than small family farms because the pay is better and they actually get benefits. I wanted to scream when I read her argument but here I am contributing to a farmer who is admitting to exploiting his workers and doesn't seem too upset about it.
Our farmers rates are so high already that we cannot afford to have a sliding scale program where higher income members pay a higher rate to subsidize lower income shares because our minimum payment is too high. Is there any way that we can use our consumer power to demand that he pay his workers more? Can we offer to pay even more for a share if it translates in to raises? But what about low-income members in our community? How can we support them and not exploit workers? It's really complicated! But has me thinking about whether I can somehow become a consultant that works with CSA's to help them have these challenging conversations with their farmers, and to make members aware of the fact that they are supporting a local business who may not be treating workers as well as we'd like to imagine they are.
What I have been thinking about more and more lately is how maybe I have been taking the wrong approach sitting passively by and sending out resumes to groups that are already stuck in the way they do things. I hate office politics and I hate sitting at a desk for 8 hours a day. I think I need to start my own thing whether a consultant or something else, but how do you really make something like that happen? Especially when my natural instinct is to do things for free. . .
In other news we caught a mouse this morning. I bought 4 different kinds of traps and poison and the snap trap is now my favorite!
I have also made an appointment to meet with home delivery midwifes. Though NY is a big city it's really not. All the midwifes know each other so I had to be careful about what I said about my current midwife. When I said that she is more medically minded than I am looking for, the response was "oh yes she's good but very medical, we have a very different approach." Hopefully they can convince Mr. T that a homebirth does not translate in to a death sentence!
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Back to the Drawing Board
Funny expression I never really thought about it before, what are we drawing? How bout a better midwife! There seems to be consensus among everyone I talk to that it is totally uncool and NOT standard for someone to do blood tests and schedule the nuchal translucency screen ultrasound/ blood work without thoroughly explaining it and getting approval for it. Even the tech was shocked that Beverly had not talked to me about what they would be doing, she just said lets set up an ultrasound.
For some reason that I cannot understand Mr. T has no problem with this and doesn't think there is any harm in getting tested up the wazoo! He has this inherent trust in doctors that is completely foreign to me and a little unnerving. He just believes they are looking out for you and well intentioned. My grandfather didn't go to a doctor for 50 years, in our house hospitals make you sick and doctors make all sorts of mistakes and second and third opinions were the norm if anything ever came up. Mr T. does not seem to question their authority, a fundamentally different world view.
I emailed a homebirth midwife that a friend of mine was raving about she said that she became like a member of the family and that she couldn't possibly say enough good things about her. Hopefully she will write back.
Today I applied for a job that I am totally underqualified for but that sounds really cool. It's to be the director of Food and Fitness, The NYC Food & Fitness Partnership is a citywide collaboration focused on implementing a comprehensive Community Action Plan to carry out the vision of making healthy eating and active living the easy choices. Who knows maybe I'll get called in because whenever I apply for stuff that I feel solidly qualified for I don't hear shit!
Last night was our last CSA pick-up for the season. The thought of going back to Crown Heights supermarket produce is depressing beyond words. Although Mr. T does not agree I think that eating Fred's produce did help us conceive, neither of us have ever eaten as much salad as we have in the last 6 months and I believe that the lack of pesticides helped our systems more than we can know.
Here's an ideal job for me since I love standing out in the cold!
Sell Christmas Trees in Manhattans finest locations! (Manhattan)
Date: 2009-11-10, 10:24AM EST
Reply to: see below
Full Time, Part Time and Night Shifts Available! From November 23rd to December 26th.
Sell, stock and deliver Christmas Trees and interact with thousands of our New York clients and their families. We are located at some of Manhattans most unique and elite locations. The full-time positions are not for everyone, and are not for anyone with other major time commitments during the holiday season. It is for those who seek a truly different work experience and holiday adventure. It is not for the faint of heart! Much outdoor work, some hard, but great fun too! Wreath Decorators, Man with van, Santas and Elves needed as well. Honesty, integrity and a great attitude are the main qualities we seek in our employees. People from all walks of life and lifestyles welcome...And of course, HOLIDAY SPIRIT A MUST!!!
Serious inquiries only!!!
212-920-9094
* Location: Manhattan
* Compensation: Good pay, plus tips!
* Principals only. Recruiters, please don't contact this job poster.
* Please, no phone calls about this job!
* Please do not contact job poster about other services, products or commercial interests.
For some reason that I cannot understand Mr. T has no problem with this and doesn't think there is any harm in getting tested up the wazoo! He has this inherent trust in doctors that is completely foreign to me and a little unnerving. He just believes they are looking out for you and well intentioned. My grandfather didn't go to a doctor for 50 years, in our house hospitals make you sick and doctors make all sorts of mistakes and second and third opinions were the norm if anything ever came up. Mr T. does not seem to question their authority, a fundamentally different world view.
I emailed a homebirth midwife that a friend of mine was raving about she said that she became like a member of the family and that she couldn't possibly say enough good things about her. Hopefully she will write back.
Today I applied for a job that I am totally underqualified for but that sounds really cool. It's to be the director of Food and Fitness, The NYC Food & Fitness Partnership is a citywide collaboration focused on implementing a comprehensive Community Action Plan to carry out the vision of making healthy eating and active living the easy choices. Who knows maybe I'll get called in because whenever I apply for stuff that I feel solidly qualified for I don't hear shit!
Last night was our last CSA pick-up for the season. The thought of going back to Crown Heights supermarket produce is depressing beyond words. Although Mr. T does not agree I think that eating Fred's produce did help us conceive, neither of us have ever eaten as much salad as we have in the last 6 months and I believe that the lack of pesticides helped our systems more than we can know.
Here's an ideal job for me since I love standing out in the cold!
Sell Christmas Trees in Manhattans finest locations! (Manhattan)
Date: 2009-11-10, 10:24AM EST
Reply to: see below
Full Time, Part Time and Night Shifts Available! From November 23rd to December 26th.
Sell, stock and deliver Christmas Trees and interact with thousands of our New York clients and their families. We are located at some of Manhattans most unique and elite locations. The full-time positions are not for everyone, and are not for anyone with other major time commitments during the holiday season. It is for those who seek a truly different work experience and holiday adventure. It is not for the faint of heart! Much outdoor work, some hard, but great fun too! Wreath Decorators, Man with van, Santas and Elves needed as well. Honesty, integrity and a great attitude are the main qualities we seek in our employees. People from all walks of life and lifestyles welcome...And of course, HOLIDAY SPIRIT A MUST!!!
Serious inquiries only!!!
212-920-9094
* Location: Manhattan
* Compensation: Good pay, plus tips!
* Principals only. Recruiters, please don't contact this job poster.
* Please, no phone calls about this job!
* Please do not contact job poster about other services, products or commercial interests.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Twins?
What do George W and I have in common? NOTHING! Certainly not having twins in the family. Today it was officially confirmed that there is only 1 little 3 cm fetus hanging out in my backward leaning uterus. And not only is it judgmental to label a uterus "backward" it also sucks because it means that it's harder to find that damned 3 cm blob and hear it's heartbeat! A regular ultrasound wasn't cuttin it so she had to insert the freakin ultrasound and was shocked that I found it uncomfortable. But we did eventually locate that big old head and funny looking ligaments, little legs and arms, and we heard the heartbeat again which has gone down to 145, (my theory is that I hadn't had coffee yet).
I didn't have much of a reaction seeing it on the screen, I thought I would feel more. I didn't sleep much last night and don't generally like being poked around so I'm sure that was part of it. It certainly doesn't resemble a human yet, as Mr. T said a photo that only a parent could love. I told Mr. T on our ride over that we would find out for sure today if we are having twins or not. The thought of twins had NEVER crossed his mind, but terrified him for our whole ride over, so the relief at seeing only one little head on the monitor was true relief and so intense that it made me laugh and that made the picture blurry and the woman scolded me.
After killing a few hours I went to appointment number 2 with the endocronoligist, Ms. Olga. Made a blunder and asked Olga when she was due and she told me her baby was 3 weeks old, that it was just fat, oops! Our healthcare system is so fucked up that even doctors don't get adequate maternity leave, I couldn't believe she was back at work with a 3 week old baby! I had to wait for a full hour to see Olga for about 9 minutes. She didn't think my thyroid levels looked alarmingly low and said that during the first trimester with all the estrogen cursing through my veins the thyroid levels sometimes get a little funky but that it really doesn't mean anything. She drew blood and said I'd get the results in a week, but that it was probably fine. That was a huge relief, she said she didn't feel anything unusual about my thyroid either. So hopefully the midwife just misinterpreted the bloodwork. . .
Speaking of this mid-wife she did not explain to me that she was doing a series of tests for downs and other diseases today. These tests are optional but she gave me no option she simply scheduled them which really pissed me off.
I've been thinking about the term unemployed. I don't like being defined by what I'm not, in the negative. It's crappy to think of yourself in the negative there are enough negative thoughts running through my mind all day without having to put that big label on myself. Why do we always have to define ourselves by what we do, or what we aspire to do, why not just who we are.
I am working on some new terminology to define my current state, but have not come up with a suitable term yet. . .
I didn't have much of a reaction seeing it on the screen, I thought I would feel more. I didn't sleep much last night and don't generally like being poked around so I'm sure that was part of it. It certainly doesn't resemble a human yet, as Mr. T said a photo that only a parent could love. I told Mr. T on our ride over that we would find out for sure today if we are having twins or not. The thought of twins had NEVER crossed his mind, but terrified him for our whole ride over, so the relief at seeing only one little head on the monitor was true relief and so intense that it made me laugh and that made the picture blurry and the woman scolded me.
After killing a few hours I went to appointment number 2 with the endocronoligist, Ms. Olga. Made a blunder and asked Olga when she was due and she told me her baby was 3 weeks old, that it was just fat, oops! Our healthcare system is so fucked up that even doctors don't get adequate maternity leave, I couldn't believe she was back at work with a 3 week old baby! I had to wait for a full hour to see Olga for about 9 minutes. She didn't think my thyroid levels looked alarmingly low and said that during the first trimester with all the estrogen cursing through my veins the thyroid levels sometimes get a little funky but that it really doesn't mean anything. She drew blood and said I'd get the results in a week, but that it was probably fine. That was a huge relief, she said she didn't feel anything unusual about my thyroid either. So hopefully the midwife just misinterpreted the bloodwork. . .
Speaking of this mid-wife she did not explain to me that she was doing a series of tests for downs and other diseases today. These tests are optional but she gave me no option she simply scheduled them which really pissed me off.
I've been thinking about the term unemployed. I don't like being defined by what I'm not, in the negative. It's crappy to think of yourself in the negative there are enough negative thoughts running through my mind all day without having to put that big label on myself. Why do we always have to define ourselves by what we do, or what we aspire to do, why not just who we are.
I am working on some new terminology to define my current state, but have not come up with a suitable term yet. . .
Friday, November 6, 2009
odd
I wasn't feeling inspired to post today but this craigslist posting is so odd I had to share it:
30 stories 30 nights (Midtown)
Date: 2009-11-05, 5:03PM EST
Reply to: gigs-stecv-1453157816@craigslist.org [Errors when replying to ads?]
I am in the midst of writing a book called 30 stories 30 nights. I have reserved a hotel room in midtown for 30 straight nights and plan on writing about how people spend their time in hotel rooms. Each night will represent a different chapter. The chapters will consist of information that I observe as well as an interview that will be conducted with each participant. The compensation for this is $150 a night. Also, feel free to bring whomever you would like to stay with you for the night. If you have any questions, please let me know. Hopefully, there will be 30 interested participants.
* Location: Midtown
* it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests
* Compensation: $150
It doesn't even make sense. Is this guy (and yes I assume it's a guy) gonna sit in the hotel room and observe you all night? How creepy and how not an interesting book idea!
Unemployment is at over 10% a 24 year high! And the funny thing is that I don't even count in those numbers, imagine how many people it must really be, like 20% of our country???
I just looked up the endocrinologist that I am going to on Monday. She's Russian and has gotten some pretty bad reviews on line for awful bedside manner, can't wait to meet her!
I've spent most of the day making a slideshow with wedding photos for our upcoming west coast wedding celebration. I think my eyes are officially crossed from staring at screens too long. A lot harder to edit on a laptop! I already miss my desktop though it's nice to be typing from the couch right now. It's freezing outside and I've gotten no exercise today, not good!
30 stories 30 nights (Midtown)
Date: 2009-11-05, 5:03PM EST
Reply to: gigs-stecv-1453157816@craigslist.org [Errors when replying to ads?]
I am in the midst of writing a book called 30 stories 30 nights. I have reserved a hotel room in midtown for 30 straight nights and plan on writing about how people spend their time in hotel rooms. Each night will represent a different chapter. The chapters will consist of information that I observe as well as an interview that will be conducted with each participant. The compensation for this is $150 a night. Also, feel free to bring whomever you would like to stay with you for the night. If you have any questions, please let me know. Hopefully, there will be 30 interested participants.
* Location: Midtown
* it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests
* Compensation: $150
It doesn't even make sense. Is this guy (and yes I assume it's a guy) gonna sit in the hotel room and observe you all night? How creepy and how not an interesting book idea!
Unemployment is at over 10% a 24 year high! And the funny thing is that I don't even count in those numbers, imagine how many people it must really be, like 20% of our country???
I just looked up the endocrinologist that I am going to on Monday. She's Russian and has gotten some pretty bad reviews on line for awful bedside manner, can't wait to meet her!
I've spent most of the day making a slideshow with wedding photos for our upcoming west coast wedding celebration. I think my eyes are officially crossed from staring at screens too long. A lot harder to edit on a laptop! I already miss my desktop though it's nice to be typing from the couch right now. It's freezing outside and I've gotten no exercise today, not good!
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