the da vinci code

Yes, I should be sleeping right now but I'm awake and pondering the important things in life: Vanilla Wafers, circumcision and The DaVinci Code. Not that any of them are related, and I have a lot to say about all three, but my focus here will be on the latter of these important life issues.

Here in Charlotte it seems like most churches are doing a DaVinci Code smear campaign. Admittedly, I have not read the book and know very little about it's content. I do know, however, that the author wrote it as a work of fiction and yet judging by the titles of sermons I'm seeing here ("Cracking the DaVinci Code" and "The DaVinci Con" to name a couple), many Christians are threatened by the release of this movie. My question is: WHY? Why are you threatened? If what you believe to be the truth is indeed the truth, why does the release of a fictional movie bother you so much? If someone points at a garden hose and tells me it's a snake I'm not going to flip out because I know it's a garden hose. Is the god you serve so much smaller than a fictional movie made solely to generate revenue? I don't know about you but my God is a lot bigger than Hollywood.

Additionally, I believe the same people who are so valiantly crying "Boycott!" on this movie are the same folks who were crying "Freedom of Speech!" when The Passion of the Christ was released. Let's not be hypocritical. Just because I happen to have a strong opinion about something (like Vanilla Wafers, for example) does not give me a right to deny freedom of speech to others. Or, if I'm wrong and we can indeed change The Constitution, we should add something about baking cakes made from rainbows and smiles.

As a sidebar, having huge banners in front of your church with "DaVinci" anything written on them is really just free advertising for the movie, don't you think? It's kind of like your mom taught you when you were five: If someone is bothering you, just ignore them. Churches here aren't doing a good job of that and they've certainly piqued my interest on this movie.

Just some un-wafery food for thought.

do or do not; there is no "try"

We started our Hypnobirthing class last night. I'm so beyond excited about it... I clearly have a lot to work through because of my previous birth experience but I'm feeling positive that this one will be entirely different, in a good way. We learned a lot about the subconscious mind, the mind-body connection and did some basic hypnosis exercises. What stood out to me the most was when our instructor suggested that we have the power and ability to decide how things will affect us, and how we will feel about those experiences.

Part of me wants to give myself permission to throw my natural birth plans out the window if I have another intense 28 hour labor, because I'm afraid that first contraction will hit and I'll flash back to those 24 unmedicated hours and beg for the drugs immediately, not wanting to relive the intensity of that experience. But I also know that I need to make a choice about what I want and how I'm going to get there, and decide not to fear labor. I'm working through this and hopefully in a few weeks I'll be all hypnotized and determined to have a natural, peaceful birth.

I also want to add a note just to say that I realize birth is an incredibly intimate and personal experience for every woman and I believe each mother should make decisions about labor and birth that are in the best interests of her and her baby. My commentary is in no way to suggest that I disagree with pain meds or necessary medical interventions... my desire is simply to have an unmedicated birth, with no judgment of those who choose a different path. =)

it's a boy!

Our new little nephew, Benjamin Shawn Grenesko, was born tonight to Phil's oldest sister Kim after FIVE hours of labor. If she didn't just have a baby I would flick her in the ear. No, seriously, I'm happy that someone has labors that are shorter than 28 hours. I don't have too many details; only that he is 20 inches long, weighs over 8 pounds and someone said he looks like Phil... which probably means he looks like Ocean. We're still waiting on pics so we'll see. That makes 5 boys and just 2 girls from the Brabbs clan. Someone needs to start having some girls. Brooke, you're up again... go ahead and give it a whirl. I'm on deck.

boycott nestle!

http://www.breastfeeding.com/advocacy/advocacy_boycott.html

i have a fever...

...and the only prescription is more cuddling.
i love to cuddle i love to cuddle i love to cuddle i love to cuddle i love to cuddle i love to cuddle i love to cuddle i love to cuddle i love to cuddle i love to cuddle i love to cuddle i love to cuddle i love to cuddle i love to cuddle i love to cuddle i love to cuddle i love to cuddle i love to cuddle i love to cuddle i love to cuddle i love to cuddle i love to cuddle i love to cuddle i love to cuddle i love to cuddle i love to cuddle i love to cuddle...

(I think it's working, honey!)

wasting time, waiting for phil to come home...

Things you're rarely asked

1. Have you ever been searched by the cops?
No. But Shalina and I ended up in the back of a cop car when her car ran out of gas outside a party on State Street at 2am. They just took us to a gas station. Lame, I know. We so wanted to be rebels but it just didn't work out that way...

2. Do you close your eyes on roller coasters?
No way!

3. When's the last time you've been sledding?
About 5 years ago, in Ann Arbor with Evan and Cedric. I'm not a big fan of the sledding, because I'm REALLY not a fan of the snow.

4. Would you rather sleep with someone else, or alone?
I hate cuddling. Hug and roll, baby.

5. Do you believe in ghosts?
I don't know. I think there's more to the spiritual than we can see or comprehend.

6. Do you consider yourself creative?
Yes.

7. Do you think O.J. killed his wife?
Yes.

8. Jennifer Aniston or Angelina Jolie?
Jennifer is cute as a button and she definitely got a raw deal. But Angelina adopts babies and gives away like a third of her income so that pretty much gets my vote.

9. Can you honestly say you know ANYTHING about politics?
Yes. But they piss me off so I don't talk about them.

10. Do you know how to play poker?
Yes, but I always need a refresher at the beginning of a game.

11. Have you ever been awake for 48 hours straight?
Labor and delivery.

12. What's your favorite commercial?
The one where the white guys are dancing to the rap music on the boom box in the office... I'm not even sure what it's for.

13. Who was your first love?
Nick

14. If you're driving in the middle of the night, and no one is around you, do you run a red light?
No. But I will make a right hand turn, pull a U-ey and turn right again. Sort of like cheating the system.

15. Do you have a secret that no one knows but you?
No.

16. Boston Red Sox or New York Yankees?
I don't care.

17. Have you ever been Ice Skating?
Yes; took lessons when I was 8.

18. How often do you remember your dreams?
Always right when I wake up; sometimes I'll be talking to Phil and remember some crazy a$$ dream, like emus that need hugs to survive or being at the spa with Lindsay Lohan and getting pissed at her for saying she doesn't know Evan.

19. When was the last time you laughed so hard you cried?
A couple of weeks ago when Brian was over and we were talking about art sluts and drinking naps.

20. Can you name 5 songs by The Beatles?
Can't buy me love, Yesterday, Help, Ticket to ride, Yellow Submarine

21. What's the one thing on your mind?
Ocean and when he's going to wake up to eat again.

22. Do you believe in love at first sight?
No. I think you grow into it. Love is a choice, not feelings of infatuation or lust.

23. Do you know who Ba-Ba-Booey is?
Nooooo...

24. Do you always wear your seat belt?
Yes.

25. what superpower do you wish you had?
To clean the house with the snap of a finger like Mary Poppins.

26. Do you like Sushi?
Only California Rolls (I don't eat anything that has parents)

27. Have you ever narrowly avoided a fatal accident?
How does one know if an accident would have been fatal? I almost rear-ended someone on the interstate at 75 MPH... it was 3am and they just stopped right on I-75; I had to swerve and slam my brakes. Very frightening.

28. what do you wear to bed?
Pajama pants and a t-shirt, much to the disappointment of my husband, I'm sure.

29. Have you ever been caught stealing?
No.

30. Does size matter?
It matters when I have to drop $60 on new bras.

31. Do you truly hate anyone?
No. But there are people I would like to give swirlies to. One in particular who shall remain nameless.

32. Cake or Death?
WHAT THE...?! What kind of a question is this??

33. If you could sleep with one famous person, who would it be?
My husband. He's so famous... just Google him and you'll see. Haha.

34. Do you know anyone in jail?
I don't think so.

35. Have you ever sang in front of the mirror?
Of course! It's been way too long since I've done that; gosh. I'll be right back.

37. What foods do you find disgusting?
Animal flesh and olives. I like olive oil though.

38. Did you ever play, "I'll show you mine, if you show me yours?
Gross. No.

39. Have you ever made fun of your friends behind their back?
No. To their faces ONLY. Just kidding... I am not mean spirited and would never laugh at someone's expense. Unless they trip and fall. Now THAT'S funny!

40. Have you ever stood up for a person you hardly knew?
Yes. And a puppy, too. But that's a long story.

41. Have you ever been punched in the face?
No, but I got hit with an iceball in the ear. Another reason I hate snow.

shots suck

Baby Ocean got his first round of immunizations today... he was very brave. A lot more brave than his mommy.

Did you know that immunizations are required by law in North Carolina? In Michigan (and several other states) parents can choose not to immunize on the basis of philosophical opposition, but not here. I thought that was interesting. And pretty crappy. I don't know if we would have opted out if given the choice... but a choice would have been nice.

Anyway, baby is sleeping soundly and even gave me a little smile and "Ah-goo!" before he fell asleep. Sweet little angel boy.