Erin Shaw Street

Turkey Day Coma

 We're all camped out in front of the fireplace at my parents' house after a day of turkey and carbs galore. The pugs are curled up on a chair. They say they can get used to living like this, which is good, since it looks like we'll be moving in here soon. Yesterday we got an offer on the house, which we accepted. We close December 15. And though we'll be looking for houses this weekend, there's a good chance we won't be ready to move into our new home till after Dec. 20, when we have to be out of ours. So ... for the next three weeks we'll be non-stop packing. It's crazy to say the least. 

More Turkey Day photos in the "Fall Photo" album ...

It's (Going To Be) A Boy!

We found out this morning that the baby is definite a boy!

I had a strong instinct from the beginning that it would be, but started to wonder in recent days. When the ultrasound technician took at look she said there was no doubt. Shane did a happy dance and my mother's jaw dropped to the floor.

He is already being recruited for several college teams. Never too early. We're both really excited. We bought two new books of names, including on on picking a "cool" name for your baby. It will not be a) a Roman emperor (per my decision) b) a Buddhist deity (per Shane's decision).

I think he will be a guitar player. Shane votes for World Cup 2030 superstar. Next visit to the doctor is in three weeks ... we'll just take it one step at a time! Here is a link to a description of how big he is and what he's doing ... 16 Weeks Baby Info

Manisha's Shower!

Just got back from Manisha's baby shower at Stephanie's. It was good times all around. Manisha and baby-to-be got lots of fun stuff. Emilie came all the way from DC (left) and we had a mini-USC reunion *with Clemsonrepresenting as well. (For more photos go to "photo albums" and click on "Fall 2005.") Manisha looks amazing!

Other fun Atlanta activities: having Chinese food with Mark and Terry at the legendary Chopstix (fried spinach was as yum as I'd heard), visiting the Kiehl's store for product and watching episodes one through five of R'Kelly's "urban opera" "Trapped In The Closet." It is most worth seeing, as R. Kelly narrarates/raps intertwined stories of love and hate while "actors" portray the plotlines of his riveting stories CNN Story On 'Trapped In The Closet' . I'm going to write my thesis on it.

Fried Pickles

Today was definitely a Monday, starting with a bad drive into work and ending with a two-hour statistic problem I still got wrong. The bright spot in my day was having fried pickles for the first time ever.

I had them at O.T.s  O.T.s Menu in Lakeview, but apparently they are quite the Southern delicacy. Alisa had told me about them but I didn't believe how good they could be until I tried one. They are long, thin slices of dill pickles dipped in batter and served with ranch dressing (because ranch just makes everything do much b etter). As a lifelong pickle fan, I can honestly say I am shocked it took nearly 30 years to discover this.

My informal survey of Alabama native friends results in data that fried pickles are served all over the place.  Sadly, I can't do the statistics on this.

Here's a recipe: The science of fried pickles
*Note on this link -- there is a mention of a pickle industry group. I want to be their lobbyist.

Galleria Movie Theater Closes

So the Galleria Movie Theater is finally closing Birmingham News Story . Not completely shocking, but still disappointing. When my parents first moved to Birmingham in the mid-90s, this was the only place we saw movies. Over the years, as stadium theaters opened, numbers dwindled. And I admit, if given the choice, we see movies in the stadium theaters too. But one thing that the Galleria had was great indie films. We saw one there the other week -- "Broken Flowers," and tomorrow night are seeing a premier of a local Birmingham film. I just hope that these films find another home locally.

50,000 Babies Can't Be Wrong

Got home last night to the best surprise. Stephanie sent an "Elvis for Babies" CD, which is Elvis songs recorded instrumentally. The cover says "delightful music box melodies - a pleasure for delicate ears and Elvis lovers of all ages." It's so good! It's beyond instrumental really, it's so whimsical. Sort of like Mark Mothersbraugh's instrumental stuff for "Royal Tenenbaums" and "The Life Aquatic." Mark Mothersbraugh was also the lead singer of DEVO

I'm listening right now and hope that the baby will absorb some by osmosis.

This almost seemed a sign because I had just returned from Naked Art's opening of Electric Oddities, which features super sassy artful lamps. I had my eye on an Elvis lamp that I thought might be good for the nursery -- the base was blue suede shoes and the lamp was covered with Elvis fabric (sort of like the kind that I used when I made my own Elvis mortarboard for graduation from high school).  Some people there who knew I love The Kind encouraged me to consider doing an Elvis nursery, a thought I have entertained.

But I really loved my friend Charles Buchanan's rice paper lamp embellished with prints of old Alabama hotel signs and icons. It features a ton of colors, but subtle. And it's one of a kind. I had been thinking of a retro nursery, with that lamp in mind (it was from a previous show). I asked how Charles how difficult it would be to make and he said very because of the way he had to manipulate the rice paper. So we have the first piece of art for the nursery (see left).

Everyone asks what will be the theme, but I really don't want a theme. I think filling a nursery with great art and colors is the way to go. Not too much, not too bright. Sort of the Portrait of the Artist as  Young Baby. Some people would get it and others wouldn't. Mulling this over.

Too Much Halloween Candy?

It's nearly 3 a.m. and I am wide awake. Perhaps it's the Halloween candy! We had many more trick-or-treaters than I anticipated -- this was the first time we were actually home to see them. There were some cute ones, but I have to say I was fundamentally opposed to the teenagers sans costumes holding out their Wal-Mart bags. Um, no.

My favorite comment of the night: "He has good candy!" (said to Shane). We actually almost ran out. I say almost because we turned the lights out around 7:45 when things were slowing down. OK, we ate the rest of the candy.

Here is a great link to a pug dressed like Darth Vader:
May the snorts be with you