woman walking: check

So I think I'm packed and ready for my trip to California this afternoon. It's always a haphazard task. I used to try to make a list. Now my strategy is to put things in/near my luggage as soon as I think of them--particularly random things like a bridal shower present and my contact lens prescription (want to get a backup pair from Costco). Costco is great. I'm even burning photos on a CD so I can get them developed at Costco for less. So why don't I just get a membership to Costco? Because New York Costco requires a car so I wouldn't make use of it here.

This week, particularly with E out of town, I did quite a bit of spring/summer cleaning. I organized 3 closets. That's a bigger deal than it sounds like! I also went in to school, had lunch with my officemate, said good-byes and turned in my keys. I received my last paycheck yesterday. And yesterday was my last day at the Office for Diversity Initiatives. Things are really wrapping up now. I guess you could say this California trip is really the kick-off for my summer! I'm looking forward to seeing my parents, friends, eating at favorite places, etc. It's strange to think that the next time I'm back I'll have a baby!

Yesterday I went in for my glucose test and regular check-up. I knew a friend of mine was having her labor induced across the street. I thought about trying to see her, but wasn't sure if it was possible. The nurse (our doctors are in the same practice group) encouraged me to try. In the end I decided there was nothing to lose--so a nurse or security guard tells me I can't go in there. My other worry was getting lost, which happened the last time I tried to visit a friend there post-birth. But I was met with success! Her nurses seemed pretty laid back. It was good timing, too, as I arrived right before her husband was leaving to get her some lunch and right before she was getting an epidural. I got a preview of where I'll be in 3 1/2 months. Still waiting for the birth announcement e-mail!

One of the things my friend's husband brought back was a carrot muffin with cream cheese icing. Apparently, they don't normally ice the carrot muffins, only the carrot cake, but in this case the "My wife is in labor" card worked! After leaving them I decided I needed to try these famous carrot muffins, too. It was nice to sit on campus (at CU) before I headed in to the office, enjoy my muffin and a good book (The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets, not bad for a first novel).

Recent pet peeve: It seems like more stores are asking for your address and phone number when you make a purchase. They will tell you all sorts of things--like how you can only return something if you're in the database. What about one's right to privacy? Maybe I will start making up a fake name/address/phone number that I can give out consistently. And maybe I will start paying cash. Hmmm.

We ordered our new bookshelves. Oddly enough, this is the first step in our "create baby area in the apartment" plan. After the bookshelves will come the crib, rug, artwork, and some kind of changing table. One of my closet tasks was turning one of the closets from "my" closet into "the baby" closet. It was kind of nice to see the various presents we're received on the different shelves--one for clothes, one for blankets and such, the third for books and miscellaneous.

My early father's day present for E (he wanted to wear them for his South Africa trip):