Rick Steves

I just want to take a minute here to thank Rick Steves. Thank you for going to Iran, thank you for planning on making a show of it, and thank you for updating your blog on your experience (www.ricksteves.com/blog). I may not agree with all of his observations, but I appreciate what he is doing. Traveling to Iran is not as scary as people think (I have yet to go - hopefully in the next 1-2 years!), but my cousins have told me how easy it is and how AWESOME it is. I also can't believe he hasn't found good food! Where is he looking? Persian food is the best!!! Ok, maybe I'm biased, but seriously... is there any dish that can compete with ghormet sabzi? and what about gheimeh!! and a delicious kebab!

Ok, I can't wait for my parents to visit in the fall. My mom can handle all the stews, etc. and my dad will HAVE to make some of his delicious kebab... yum! Luckily, I don't have to sit and salivate pathetically. Tonight's dinner is ghormet sabzi. My mom froze some portions for us before she left. (Of course, I could also make something myself, but nothing compares to mom and dad's cooking!)

Anyway, again, a BIG thank you to Rick Steves. I may find him a bit annoying at times (though I will admit his Italy guides were very handy!), but now he certainly has a place of honor in my heart.

(Baby just kicked! very strange and so cool! It's been two days that I've known that that is what I'm feeling, and I can't imagine that it's only going to get stronger and more frequent! Only about 1-2 times a day right now and only lasts for a minute max.)

Public Exposure

I am sitting at my desk wondering... how inappropriate is it for me to have my buckle undone and my pants unbottoned? Everything is covered by a light sweater, but it is definitely a bit strange.

Cat's Out of the Bag

And it feels great... I'M GOING TO BE A MOMMY!!! Feels good to get that off my chest. It's SO exciting... and scary. I've had things that I've thought about a lot, but never anything that I've thought about quite so much as this. I mean, I'm not naturally one of those people to go on and on about it, but I have to admit... I do think on and on about it. It's hard to not be aware of the changes going on in our lives, in my body, and eventually in my brain.

But I love it. I'm scared of it, but in a way that lets me know that I'm slowly accepting the changes that will come to my social life. Of course, that had already started changing. I don't find any of my friends really want to go out dancing until 1-2am before... perhaps on occasion, but not like it was 5 years ago.

I mean... I'll have to drink less from now on. Then again, realizing that I'm pregnant and LOSING weight in the beginning from losing alcohol calories has been a huge indicator to me that perhaps that's a _good_ thing.

Anyway, that's all for now. Right now, all I have to say is... I'M PREGNANT! God willing, we'll be a mom and dad come November. And it feels so good to let everyone know. Frankly, I was getting sick of having co-conspirators doing the alcoholic drink shuffle with me... perhaps esp. because the smell of alcohol kind of grosses me out right now. :)