Aggravated

So I asked my teacher last week on Tuesday if we had an exam in another one of her classes that day since I hadn't heard about it in our previous classes. She assured me that we indeed wouldn't be having an exam that day; it was being rescheduled for the following Thursday.

Today is Tuesday, one week after my conversation with my teacher. I showed up to class today expecting to take more notes for our upcoming exam this Thursday. Instead the teacher begins to hand out scantrons and #2 pencils. I was really caught off-guard. What was happening? When I asked the teacher concerning my confusion, she believed I had been mistaken--that I had somehow confused the paper that was due on Thursday with the exam today. I began to relay our exact conversation just the week prior where she informed me of the exam taking place this Thursday. The teacher shrugged and explained that the exam had been mentioned in class before (the class that I had missed last Thursday).

I wasn't getting anywhere with my evidence. I asked if I could take the exam at another time because she had misinformed me of the date. She said the test isn't worth much compared to the paper due in a few days and told me not to worry about it. Some other students tried to comfort me by adding their unhelpful and unwanted remarks: "It's super-easy." "Just guess." "Go for the big numbers on the test; think about the big picture."

That's not the point. I hate being unprepared for important things, like tests and assignments. Coupled with the fact that my teacher gave me the wrong information about the actual date of the exam and thinks nothing of it further aggravates me.

I took the test and guessed on 95% of my answers; the exam had to do with statistical numbers of people in poverty worldwide. This is a test I definately would have liked to have been more prepared for. I'm still heated over this whole incident and I am contemplating going to the department chair with a complaint. The teacher is supposed to go by the syllabus handed out on the first day of class. If there is a change to the syllabus, the teacher should inform the students in writing via e-mail or hardcopy. Mentioning an exam date change one class before the exam is to be given (while informing someone else of an entirely different date) is not any way to structure a class.

Craigslist Junkie: Feeling Like a New Mom Already

I am a garage sale fanatic. I love them. If I see one, I'm willing to stop. I don't do the drive-by to see what they've got method, because 90% of the time, they've got goods that aren't necessarily big-ticket items. I'm a big bargain hunter and it's thrilling to see what I can get with as little money as possible.

The sad thing about garage sales is that they usually only happen about one season a year. What am I to do the rest of the 3 seasons?

Craigslist. I'm two for two so far:

1. Oak crib/toddler bed with near brand new matress in pristine condition + matching oak changing table with new changing pad. Items retail at over $350. Cragislist steal: $150.
2. Baby Trend Galaxy Travel System stroller. Includes mom tray for keys and coffee, baby tray that flips open, one-handed closing system, car seat which latches onto stroller base, car seat base for car plus an additional base for travel. Retails at over $250. Craigslist bargain: $100.

My mom has told me to stop buying items because other people are going to want to buy me these things. "Not big items." I told her. Yet she continued to reassure me that people are going to want to buy me big items. She said I should stick to buying cutsie items, like clothes, instead.

That's not the trend I've always seen at baby showers. Everyone, including myself, loves to buy baby clothes. Although people's choices may not be sizeably correct (like buying Christmas items for a newborn when the baby will be here in August), I'd still like to give them the desire of their hearts and not force them to buy those only big things left on my registry, like a highchair.

Laying Low

Over the weekend my Dr told me to take it easy. So I took her advice and laid around all weekend long. In this span of time, I vegged out in front of my TV and laptop and watched the first 3 seasons of The Office.~*

Relief

I was having some concerns last week after working out. But today I went in for a just-in-case visit with my midwife and she reasurred me that I and baby Sultes are absolutely as healthy as can be. I got to know what blood type I was (my husband doesn't have to be tested for his blood now) and that all my tests came back with good results. She said "It's as good as it gets," which flooded my heart and mind with relief.

I was even able to hear the heartbeat again! Baby Sultes had moved a few inches above where he or she was comfortably nesting last week. I knew I felt slightly Poohish for a good reason.

There is an indescribeable joy that comes with knowing everything is going smoothly. Praise God for a healthy pregnancy!~*

Feeling Like Pooh

Not only do I have "rumblies in my tummy" and also the need to snack on "small smackerals" of whatever I can rumage up in my fridge, my t-shirts are starting to creep up on me. My once too-big work polo kept meeting in the middle of my tummy this morning.

Either this is pregnancy or I need to do some Pooh Bear stretches. "Up, down, touch the ground..."~*

Searching for a Packzi

Packzi ("poonch-skey") is a wonderful Polish pastry that resembles, but is not to be confused with, a jelly-filled doughnut with powdered sugar on top. It is the meal of choice on Fat Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday--the beginning of Lent.

Fat Tuesday is the day to get all your goodies in before sacrificing them in a fast that lasts up until Easter Sunday, were we get to gorge ourselves again on chocolate bunnies. Lent is a time to remember Jesus' sacrifice for us on Calvary.

And this Fat Tuesday will mark the 4th straight year in a row where I've had to miss out on Packzi's. In Michigan, they're easy to find. Even in the most minute grocery outlet, there are packages of Packzi's. The hard-core fans of this 1000+ calorie treat wait in line, days--even nights--before the big feasting day to purchase boxes of these things. The very smart and savvy consumer places their order well in advance online to ensure they get their goods.

I have tried to search for these delicatable polish patries before in Minnesota. I walked into Cub my first year here to find the store void of Packzi's. I asked the baker if they even sold Packzi's. He looked at me like I had 3 heads. Online on blogs similar to this one, others complain in exhaustion about their efforts of trying to locate a Paczki in vain.

Sigh. Heritage lost, my unborn child in the womb might never get to experience the sweet goodness that is the Paczki until they are old enough to chew it someday.~*

Pasta With Red Sauce, Please

My longest lasting craving thus far has been mouth watering, savory pasta with red sauce. It brings me back, I think, to those early few weeks of undiscovered pregnancy at the Olive Garden where I ate my fill--literally--after a weekend bout of morning sickness.

My hubby is making a special trip on his way home to help satisfy this craving, yet again. The warm, tart classic linguine alla marinara with crisp side salad and toasty, buttery breadsticks awaits me.

Yum.~*

Baby Update

Yesterday was our first official Dr. apt with the midwives. It was really great because I got to hear the baby's "strong" heartbeat! It sounded like a little train. I cried. Martin kissed me. He was relieved to finally hear some feedback from the womb.

On a more personal note, lately I've been noticing one of the most dreaded, ugly signs of pregnancy: stretch marks. If you're squeemish already, stop reading. If your intrigued or sympathetic or can relate to my plight, move on.

The first new stretch mark I noticed looked like a bruise. That's what Martin thought it was. "No, it's a stretch mark," I reassured him. He didn't look convinced. "Is it painful?" he asked. The mark is not painful, but the process sure is.

Then I noticed other colors of stretch marks, all brand new, today. I thought I had chicken pox because instead of being a light blue, they were bright pink. Oh the joys of becoming a mother. Time to hit the gym I suppose.

This is another fascinating discovery. The midwife--and many other reliable resources--told me I need to exercise while I'm pregnant; that I will be much happier and healthier later on if I do. I start this week with a light routine and have changed some of my eating habits. Apparently I was not supposed to be drinking so much juice. Water is now my hydration drug of choice. I can tell you it's done wonders for my cold today. I feel 10x better than I did this morning, or even this afternoon.

Well, I'll keep you updated on all the glory and anguish each step of the way whether you like it or not. Stay tuned if you're still able to stomach all the wonderful, exciting and sometimes not so glamorous aspects of becoming a mommy.~*