LOL -- I wanted to build some suspense. ;)

OK, so I took a preggy test. Reason? I'm gaining weight and I don't know why. I don't think I'm doing anything different, but all of a sudden my favorite jeans don't fit. At all. Hm. I'm on the mini pill, so I don't have a period, thus I'm clueless. I may have not taken it quite as regularly as I should the past couple months because of this & that. . . so. I thought it unlikely 'cause we're an old boring married couple (ahem) and because we're, well, old. I'm 41, not exactly in prime fertile years.

I bought the thing on the way home from class, and I was in a hurry, not much time before I had to pick up the kids. I went in and peed on the stick, went out to change my shoes (new boots, they hurt), came back and saw TWO BLUE LINES. I nearly fainted. Seriously, I think I would have fainted if I didn't sit down.

My heart was thumping. Damn, I'm too old for this. I'm on lots of medication for blood pressure, cholesterol, etc. and just am happy with the way things are, right? I sat on the bed and soaked it in. OMG. OMG. OMG.

Then I looked at the box.

Uh, a positive is a PLUS, not two lines.

Dummy.

I'M NOT PREGNANT! That is making me happy.

Is it really stupid that it's also kinda-sorta making me sad? ::shrug::

Sorry hin, the weight thing is to do with age. I'm 39 and experiencing the same problem and so are a few of my friends about the same age. There's a reason 40 has that big thing about it

It's a complication you didn't need. Glad there aren't any hard decisions to be made.... Now, you take that pill regularly, you hear me girl??

Yikes! Be careful Juni. We want to be happy for people when they're pregnant but it is risky business for our age group.

Well. The point is, that it's just kind of funny that for a whole 60 seconds or so I actually thought it was POSITIVE. I really did. That's why it's a post here, and not just a private eye roll. ;) So you can laugh at me!

I should know better; for the 10 years or so I've been taking the mini pill I've bought a lot of preggy tests. The way it works is you take the same low dose every day, there's no "off" week like regular pills, right? So no period, which I do not miss, but there's no way to really know if you're "late" like you ordinarily would. I feel very disassociated from a woman's normal cycle. And because they're low dose you have to take them exactly the same time each day, there's less forgiveness. So if I happen to feel ill one day, or fall asleep early, or get drunk and forget, etc. I'm theoretically opening myself up to fertility. I never had trouble getting knocked up when I meant to.

I haven't thought about it much, though, for the last three years or so. I figure at this age, conception is much less likely (plus you have to, um . . . ::shrug:: never mind) but you never know. I've probably got another few years till the "change."

Hubby's sister had a baby at age 41. And did it again at 43. Biggest mistake she ever made (long story) but health wise everything was OK. (Well, we're not entirely sure about the youngest one yet; he's kind of LD, but that may be his environment.) People do it. In fact, I think hubby's mom was about that age when she had him, too. My mom was 35.

Pie mentioned hard decisions. Wouldn't be a decision at all, unless a test revealed serious problems. A baby would be welcome, even though it wouldn't be convenient. Actually aside from the age thing, it would be easier this time around because I've got older kids to help out, especially my daughter, who is really such a mother hen already.

Well obviously it's a moot point. It's just that for that minute I really thought it was true and it was interesting to note my reaction. Terror, certainly. Calculation of when spring quarter ends.

Hubby and I elected to stop at two when we were blessed with one of each, boy and girl. Didn't want to push our luck, or our resources. But it's always been kind of sad to me that it's over, especially now that they are on the cusp of high school and fairly independent. OTOH I'm loving the chance to "get my life back" so to speak and be something besides mom.

Oh well, thanks for letting me ramble, and I realize it really was just that . . . roll your eyes at me, go ahead, you think I'm a ninny. :D

Maybe he should get snipped, so you can quit the pills all together?;)

Buckeyes! WTG OSU! :)

Rain. Only a few millimeters so far, but 20 to 40 mills expected over the next day or two, which should put out most of the fires that the lightning started.

My replacement camera arrived :) I picked it up yesterday from the store *skips about* soooo glad I didn't have to buy a new one!

So, do you love capitalist consumer-good fetishism yet comrade? :D

Friday. And a four day weekend next week.

I run my pc on a Windows operating system. I sold my soul long ago :P Or at least that's what my Linux fethishist friend thinks. *awaits missiles*

I wasn't specifically talking about whether to 'keep' the baby or not -- somehow, I though that you were likely to feel as you do. Even if a baby is completely planned, there are always a ton of (sometimes difficult!) decisions to be made. School, your own health, your current family... Still, glad it worked out for the best. :)

Speaking to a friend today, she mentioned the word "yarn" as in the wool sense.
Really made me smile.
The knitters amongst you might hear it all the time, but I haven't heard it for a long while.

Apart from that, all is pretty much okay-dokey.
Going Christmas shopping next week with the 'rents. I'll take pics of the decorations.
Sleeping pretty well.
Saw the Barrowman on Children in Need last night.
Little or no rain compared to some parts of the UK (Cockermouth sounds funny alright, but they're had a terrible time recently) and been walking daily.

Huzzah!

hehe Americans say yarn where Brits would say wool ....sounded so old fashioned and quaint when I first heard it. it funny, because I think that about a few word, phrases and customs ....and yet that the stereotypical New American view of Olde England. it amuses me (in a good way) the way the two countries are on different points of the trend cycle on so many things.

wait. so what is yarn in the UK?

we say "wool" when we mean "yarn". It doesn't have to be wool. But knitters might use "yarn" more often because it actually matters to them if it really is wool or not.

And your sheeps wear what?

So it can be polyester or something like that?

c'mon ...les than two minutes.... that's pretty damn fast....:lol:

very damn fast!

It'd've been faster if she'd've held still.....

(are you liking the apostrophes?)

nicel' play'd

TURDUCKHEN for Christmas dinner!
Yay!

They bought it today (it's in the freezer).
I promise you photos.

...adds to bucket list..... sounds great!

Finished with jury duty, civil suit, one day trial. :)

got my IUD yesterday - no more pills! Woo hoo! (TMI?)

:celebrat:

I have just landed a new job!

Starting in early January, I will be a part-time (but continuing) associate lecturer at a real university, as an "academic skills advisor".

I will be teaching research and researching teaching.

The environment should be much better; socially, academically, even geographically.

The pay rate is much the same, but since I will be half-time I will take a substantial cut in income (although I will be paying much less tax). I will be fine financially, and will probably be able to go to full time in a year or so if I want.

I am jumping off the top rung of one ladder onto the bottom rung of another, much taller ladder.

:jig:

Pics or it never happened. :eek: :bolt:

Congratulations Zen!

No we have to get a pic. Or maybe casi can post one with no fear of recrimination..... :p

Woooooooooohoooooooooo! Way to go Zen!

Way to go, Zen!

:cheerldr: Zen!

Lets hope it full time, soon.

Woot! Way to go Zenster!

So, window-cleaner, right?

Good on ya, Zen.

great news, Zen!! congratulations!!

what is making me happy is my cock pin! :D

Yeah Zen!
...

So, how many credit-hours should I be taking?

It snowed! I didn't get to see it and it melted as soon as it hit a surface, but still...I know it snowed!

My wonderful Belgian Sheepdog gave birth to 10 [yikes!] 10 beautiful puppies!

Congratulations Zen! :D

Ten?!! Wow. Beautiful pups, Nirvana!

Hot dog(s)!!!!!!!!!

Thanks Cap n Limey ! :)

Woohoo Zen! (And sorry, no pics.....)

Congrats, Zen and Nirvana.

I have a pack of 10 buns ...anyone got sauce?

I got lots of stuff done today. It feels good. but then I always get the "waiting for the other shoe to drop" feeling. And I still have to go and single-handedly deal with swim club registration tonight, and it's bound to be full of parents angry that we didn't schedule the entire program for their convenience...... Gee, I brought myself down already! how 'bout that? :rolleyes:

:lol:

:hug: Here's hug for ya, Monnie

Serious congrats Zen. Half your luck going to work at the best university in this city what with the view of the sunset over the sea and the pine forest in the bit between the two hills, not to mention the 'assertive' geese to do battle with at lunchtimes around the lake... and most importantly the fact that academically it's actually academic.

On the downside, the staffroom here isn't going to be half as much fun :sniff:and I don't see how we're going to able replace the 'roving Scrabble assistant' services that you provide, but we (royal we) will bravely soldier on in your absence.

As far as being able to post photos without fear of recrimination, small problem there....Zen knows where I live.

Thank you all.

Casi mentions the geese. When were you last there? Twinky and Binky were dealt with by means of a 12-guage shotgun in 1995 when they became too aggressive. Has there been trouble since?

Sigh...my nostalgia trip has been slightly sullied by reality.

Happiness is a box of puppies ... sans sauce ;)

Nirvana, I was going to say they are so cute,which they are but then my overriding thought was wow there are soooo many!

The weather yesterday was perfect. It was cold and clear, threatening snow in the am with perfect golden lemon colored sunshine in the afternoon. Driving home last night there was the most beautiful large full moon rising over the bridge. I was tempted enough to pick up my cell phone to get a picture but decided crashing wasn't worth it.

I'd forgotten all about Twinkie and Binkie's sad demise .:sniff:

AND gorgeous puppies. Could we set up house with them and the baby polar bear? (in separate wings of course).

That's a bucket full of awwwwwww there.

want....................puppy

It is hard for this Brit -as for many Brits- to blow her own trumpet. But I have to share this, because it was pretty cool and so kind....

I just got in from nearly 4 hours driving to and from and at the school's silent auction fundraiser. I didn't buy anything. Sounds more like it should be in the unhappy thread, right?

.....but I had donated eight ceramic pieces and they all sold -which is good going in this economy. There were even "bidding wars" on a couple of the pieces, although the starting and finishing prices were lower than I would have liked, but every buck is profit for the school, so it's all good. My pieces raised just over $100 I think. So that made me happy.

But I was actually there to run a scrip store -it's the fundraiser I do for the school, seeing as everyone had their checkbooks out already (selling gift cards at face value, I buy them at discount and the school keeps the difference) ...... and I sold over $4,000 of scrip! Profits range from 2-19% so I don't know exactly how much I raised until i enter it all in my spreadsheet, but I'm guessing around $300. So that made me very happy.

And several people took the time to stop and thank me which was very nice.

And then... the person who won the piece over which there had been the most bidding -the one I almost didn't donate because beest and I really liked it too---- gave it back to me as a thank you :o

So I'm happy. If very tired with a lot of paperwork to do.....